?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rft.relation=http%3A%2F%2Foar.icrisat.org%2F417%2F&rft.title=Enhancing+incomes+and+livelihoods+through+improved+farmers%E2%80%99+practices+on+goat+production+and+marketing&rft.creator=Andre%2C+V+R&rft.creator=Homann%2C+S&rft.subject=Agriculture-Farming%2C+Production%2C+Technology%2C+Economics&rft.description=The+role+of+livestock+in+rural+communities+is+changing+rapidly.+Goats+are+increasingly+used+to+augment+cash+income+and+enhance+food+security%2C+thus+serving+as+an+important+component+in+household%E2%80%99s+livelihood+strategies%2C+particularly+in+drought-prone+areas.+While+much+has+been+done+to+improve+agricultural+production+in+the+small-scale+sector%2C+little+is+known+and+documented+about+the+current+state+of+goat+production+and+marketing+in+the+communal+areas+of+Zimbabwe.+This+report+aims+to+set+a+baseline+of+the+current+status+of+goat+production+and+marketing+in+southwestern+Zimbabwe.+The+report+illustrates+the+main+functions+of+goats.+Basic+statistics+describe+goat+ownership+patterns+with+regard+to+the+socioeconomic+profi+les+of+goat+keepers%2C+and+the+responsibilities+of+different+household+members+in+day-to-day+goat+management+and+marketing.+The+current+productivity+of+goat+fl+ocks+and+seasonal+trends+are+illustrated%2C+indicating+major+challenges+that+farmers+face+in+goat+production+and+marketing.+The+report+then+provides+a+detailed+description+of+the+current+management+practices+and+existing+marketing+systems%2C+and+illustrates+differences+between+districts%2C+proximity+to+markets%2C+flock+sizes%2C+levels+of+education+and+gender.+Goat+mortality+has+been+found+to+be+the+most+important+constraint.+Farmers+with+few+goats+are+unable+to+sustain+their+fl+ocks%2C+whereas+those+with+larger+fl+ocks+do+not+realize+the+potential+benefits+from+goats+due+to+high+mortality+rates.+Poor+access+to+animal+health+support%2C+dry+season+feed+shortages+and+inadequate+housing+are+the+most+important+immediate+factors+contributing+to+high+mortalities+and+can+generally+be+ascribed+to+a+lack+of+information+and+poor+service+structures%2C+both+resulting+from+limited+support+given+to+the+small+stock+sector+by+government+and+NGO+support+services.+The+study+also+shows+that+although+many+farmers+attempt+to+sell+goats%2C+markets+are+underdeveloped%2C+infrastructure+is+inadequate+and+market+information+is+not+readily+available.+This+results+in+poor+confi+dence+in+markets%2C+high+transaction+costs+and+low+prices+for+goats.+It+is+hypothesized+that+improved+market+access+will+act+as+an+incentive+for+farmers+to+invest+more+in+goat+production.+Market+development+is+thus+singled+out+as+the+next+important+step+in+further+developing+the+goat+industry+in+Zimbabwe.+Practical+options+to+enhance+the+contribution+of+goats+to+food+security+and+income+growth+are+discussed%2C+and+priority+interventions+are+recommended+to+service+providers%2C+development+agents+and+policymakers+in+Zimbabwe.&rft.publisher=International+Crops+Research+Institute+for+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics&rft.date=2008&rft.type=Monograph&rft.type=NonPeerReviewed&rft.format=application%2Fpdf&rft.language=en&rft.identifier=http%3A%2F%2Foar.icrisat.org%2F417%2F1%2FCO_200802.pdf&rft.identifier=++Andre%2C+V+R+and+Homann%2C+S++(2008)+Enhancing+incomes+and+livelihoods+through+improved+farmers%E2%80%99+practices+on+goat+production+and+marketing.++Manual.+International+Crops+Research+Institute+for+the+Semi-Arid+Tropics%2C+Bulawayo%2C+Zimbabwe.+++++