Families in Ohangwena empowered with goats
Families living in poverty in the Ohangwena Region recently received a donation of goats to improve their lives through livestock farming.
25 March 2020 | Local News
In its quest to improve the livelihoods of rural communities, the Ohangwena Regional Council, through its rural services division, has handed over 180 goats worth N$500 000 to 36 families.
According to council spokesperson Silas Nepembe, the aim of the donation is to empower families living in poverty through livestock farming.
Nepembe said the goats comprise of 144 does and 36 bucks, and each family received five goats – four does and one buck.
"We have poor families in our communities who for everything they need just depend on government handouts or donations from good Samaritans. The idea of giving them goats is for them to farm and be able to solve some of their basic needs," Nepembe said.
"The majority of beneficiaries are mahangu producers and giving them goats will strengthen their farming abilities. Goats produce milk, which they can eat with their mahangu, and in the long run, they will be able to sell some goats."
Goat stocking
Nepembe said goats stock quickly and if beneficiaries are serious, they will have many goats within a short period of time.
"We trained them that if their goats stock up, they can sell some and solve whatever problem they have. The problem is that some of our people, when they see goats, they are only thinking about meat. This is wrong, goats can assist them to send their children to school or buy their basic needs," Nepembe said.
He added that beneficiaries were also given medicines to fight stress and parasite control and trained by the agriculture ministry on small livestock farming during the 2018/19 financial year.
"Ohangwena Regional Council will closely monitor the farmers and help them when the need arises for a period of three years," he said.
ILENI NANDJATO
OSHAKATI
According to council spokesperson Silas Nepembe, the aim of the donation is to empower families living in poverty through livestock farming.
Nepembe said the goats comprise of 144 does and 36 bucks, and each family received five goats – four does and one buck.
"We have poor families in our communities who for everything they need just depend on government handouts or donations from good Samaritans. The idea of giving them goats is for them to farm and be able to solve some of their basic needs," Nepembe said.
"The majority of beneficiaries are mahangu producers and giving them goats will strengthen their farming abilities. Goats produce milk, which they can eat with their mahangu, and in the long run, they will be able to sell some goats."
Goat stocking
Nepembe said goats stock quickly and if beneficiaries are serious, they will have many goats within a short period of time.
"We trained them that if their goats stock up, they can sell some and solve whatever problem they have. The problem is that some of our people, when they see goats, they are only thinking about meat. This is wrong, goats can assist them to send their children to school or buy their basic needs," Nepembe said.
He added that beneficiaries were also given medicines to fight stress and parasite control and trained by the agriculture ministry on small livestock farming during the 2018/19 financial year.
"Ohangwena Regional Council will closely monitor the farmers and help them when the need arises for a period of three years," he said.
ILENI NANDJATO
OSHAKATI
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