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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]

GOAT farmer, Mr Peter Mukombe, who is exhibiting his Boer goats at the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo says he abandoned his nursing job in the United Kingdom to come back home and venture into livestock farming.

Aged 45, Mr Mukombe spent 15 years in the United Kingdom working as a psychiatric nurse, but his love for animals saw him abandoning his job 13 years ago to venture into goat farming in Umguza District, Matabeleland North, where he is now a proud owner of 106 Boer goats.

Speaking at his exhibition stand at the ZITF, Mr Mukombe said he left for the United Kingdom as a 19-year-old teenager and stayed there for 15 years.

“I went to the United Kingdom when I was still a teenager, but I have so much love for animals that 13 years ago I decided to come back home where I ventured into goat farming, starting with the easy-to-look-after Matabele goat,” said Mr Mukombe.

He said when his herd slightly grew, he sold them to raise capital and got into Boer goat farming, which he is now breeding.

“Goats like any animal need care and they too will take care of you. I have no regrets whatsoever for coming back home and getting into this business, which has a ready market. 

“In fact, we are failing to meet the demands of the market and that shows you that there is a huge potential for further growth,” said Mr Mukombe.

To cut costs associated with buying feed for his goats in urban centres, Mr Mukombe says he grows his own feed, which he keeps in the form of silage.

“Buying animal food is very expensive, this is where you also find a farmer deciding to reduce feeding times and amounts, which affects the health and quality of your animals. 

“To counter that, I planted maize in just a quarter of a hectare and after it matured, we sold our cobs and turned the rest into silage, which gave me 50 tonnes of silage, enough for the whole year and spills into the next year,” said Mr Mukombe.

He said his plan was to keep feedstocks that will last for the next three years. Mr Mukombe said his goats are sold at a minimum of US$300 each.