Review on the status of goat production, marketing, challenges and opportunities in Namibia.

This paper presents the current status of goat production and marketing in Namibia and its challenges and opportunities. Livestock data and reports from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, Meat Board of Namibia and Namibia Statistics Agency were analysed to establish the current status in goat production and marketing. Namibia has 1.9 million goats of which 54% of the total number is found in the northern communal areas. In the commercial farming sector, Boer goat is the main established breed for meat production, while in northern communal areas, the local indigenous goats are common. Goats are reared under an extensive production system and fully dependent on rangelands. Marketing of goats in the formal market is regulated by the board of the red meat industry, whereas there is no regulated marketing in the informal market. The main purpose of goats farming in communal areas is rather for home consumption; thus, trading becomes secondary when a need for emergency income arises. In the commercial sector, goats are mainly marketed on hoof to the lucrative South African market. The major challenges for goat production are recurrent drought, diseases and parasites, predators and theft and poor management. Organized marketing in communal areas and lack of marketing infrastructure are impeded by small flock sizes that limit the numbers that can be marketed. Consumers' health consciousness provides an opportunity to increase goat production through increased demand for goat meat and milk. Market incentives such as attractive prices, market infrastructure, value addition and support policies for local farmers are imperative to improve goat production and marketing.