Goat conference planned for Durban
KwaZulu-Natal is by far the largest market for goats in South Africa.
THE Goat Agri-Business Conference takes place on Wednesday, on 2 November at the Durban Botanic Gardens. The purpose of the conference is to highlight the importance of the goat industry in KwaZulu-Natal. The province is by far the largest market for goats in South Africa.
Statistics show that around 430 000 families in South Africa own goats. However, not all the families are generating a sustainable income from goats. The goat industry can make a meaningful contribution to the development of emerging farmers and thus alleviate poverty by creating jobs.
The theme of this conference is “Goats are Wealth”. Prominent speakers from the goat farming industry will share their expert knowledge with prospective and current goat farmers and agribusiness practitioners.
Speakers will include Dr Siphiwe Mkhize, Head of Department at the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Francois du Toit, CEO of the African Conservation Trust, Sazi Mhlongo from the Traditional Health Practitioners Council of South Africa and many more experts.
Topics to be discussed include types of goats, how to breed them, business opportunities and job creation in the goat industry, cultural use of goats and goat products; health issues in goat breeding and marketing and selling of goats and their products.