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Abstract

It is a challenge to transform the mindset of subsistence farmers to consider goats as a productive asset. Goat health, breeding, housing and nutrition are the main challenges in a smallholder production system. The development of the goat market sector is informal and underdeveloped. As a result, goats have not been identified as a significant contributor to the national gross domestic product. Many development organizations consider goats a preferred livestock commodity for poverty alleviation. Therefore, it is desirable to have a systematic approach to optimize goat production for smallholders. A smallholder goat value chain works well with a focus on improved goat production, increasing business and entrepreneur skills and organizing communities for strong social capital. Heifer International has large-scale goat value chain programs for smallholders in many countries. Partnership and collaborative efforts among academic/scientific, public/private sectors, producers and civil societies are critical for sustainable smallholder goat development.

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