Two years after FARM Africa’s pull-out the number
of operating groups has continued to increase. In
2006 the MGBA has 3 450 members, all of whom
keep improved goats which produce between 1.5 and
3.5 litres of milk per day. The group produces about
3 500 litres of milk daily, some of which is processed
and packaged for sale. Member families own more
than 35 000 improved goats of which 30 percent
have reliable pedigree and performance records.
The performance records are used for calculating
growth rates and milk yields. These data were
formerly processed by FARM-Africa. After the phasing
out of the project, MGBA has been encouraged to
establish collaboration with universities and research
institutions to support them in data processing. Most
of the owners of the improved goats are no longer
“poor”. Some have used profits from goat production
to purchase one or two dairy cows, build better
houses and educate their children. Production of
yoghurt and fresh pasteurized milk (adding value) is
indicative of scope for further developments