The rearing of goats as part of agricultural activities by farmers in rural communities is fast becoming a lucrative business. Most farmers in the Moyamba District, Southern Sierra Leone are now concentrating on raising goats for commercial purposes.
The high demand for goats by members of the public has had a corresponding increase in farmers to rear this specie as a way of making money.
For most communities in the Moyamba District and beyond goat is a coveted commodity and a farmer can pay a whole year school fees for a child attending primary or Junior secondary school from the proceeds of a single goat sold.
As a way of responding to this growing demand for goat the Animal Science Department of Njala University has established a barn specially meant for raising goats.
Following a visit to Njala University last week our reporter caught up with Roland Suluku who happens to be a Research Scientist, Lecturer and head of Animal Health Club at the University. In a brief interview with Mr. Suluku he intimated this press that there is need for government and other NGOs to put more emphasis on goat rearing as it is a potential factor that will lead to economic break through for most rural communities.
Roland Suluku disclosed to Awoko that the Animal Health Club has vaccinated close to 500 goats in the Moyamba District as a way of encouraging more goat production.
“Before the war the cost of a medium sized goat was around Le20,000 to Le30,000 but now the cost for a goat is around Le150,000 and Le300,000” the Research Scientist stated.
By William Freeman
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