Wary of ridicule, Kayonza residents turn to buying goat milk secretly

Joseph Gasasira, 25, earns a living by secretly selling goat milk in his community. Gasasira, a resident of Mwiri Sector, Kayonza District, who owns over 200 goats, told The New Times that many of his clients were not ready to buy the milk in broad-daylight, because of stereotypes associated with goat milk. Goat milk is not very popular in Rwanda, and thus goats are commonly reared for meat, not milk. Gasasira, however, said the discreet manner in which he deals with his customers doesn’t stop him from making profits, adding that he was doing well in his dairy goat business. “It is a sad reality that goat’s milk is still regarded as a taboo in our communities…people have failed to unchain themselves from the old traditional beliefs,” he said. “This forces me to sell the milk to customers who want it and know how nutritious it is under cover of darkness. They send children or workers at night or at dawn to collect the milk…it has saved many children at risk of kwashiorkor.” Gasasira added that he abandoned cattle keeping to venture into goat rearing for milk, noting that the business was earning him good money. He said the milk fetches him about RWF400,000 a month. “I sell goat’s milk and goats for meat when they reach middle age. Either way, these animals are a source of good income. I use the proceeds to cater for my family and pay school fees for my children,” he added. ‘‘A litre of goat’s milk goes for Rwf200 and the buyers are unbelievably many. The milk is fresh, delicious, and exceptionally nutritious,” he said. Residents acknowledge that Gasasira set a very good example by fully embracing goat farming in the community that’s more familiar with cattle keeping. Damascene Mutungi, another dairy goat farmer, noted that the challenge was sensitising people to drink goat milk. He said that goats offer enough milk, adding that a properly fed goat produces between four and five liters per day. “Goat milk is more nutritious than cows’ milk…this has been proved scientifically. Unfortunanot dare drink it,” he said. Reacting to the perceptions against goat milk, the Mayor of Kayonza District, John Mugabo, said goat milk was quite important and that several contribute significantly to household income and children’s nutrition. “We expect that sensitisation and nutrition education will help change the negative attitudes toward goat milk,” he said. “Dairy goats can easily be kept by both urban and rural communities for milk, meat and skin. Goats are not expensive and also reproduce fast. They are an important source of income and food among families that cannot afford to raise dairy cows because of lack of land or fodder”. The government started a campaign to distribute dairy goats to poor families to fight malnutrition. Nutritionists advise that goat milk is good for patients, especially those who have digestive problems or who are unable to take cow’s milk. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Wary of ridicule, Kayonza residents turn to buying goat milk secretly