Prospects for Goat Genetic Improvement in Support of the Proposed Smallholder Goat Market Development Initiative in the Western Semi Arid Areas of Zimbabwe: 1. Goat Open Nucleus Breeding Scheme (GONBS

Given the right market incentives subsistence goat producers in Zimbabwe may move to a more commercial orientation with better management of their goats resulting in higher production and off take rates. There is great opportunity of commercializing smallholder goat production through market development initiative which encompasses the improvement of the overall goat production practices and an increase in the number of smallholder goat producers with a deliberate commercial orientation would be the priority of the whole program. Poor marketing system due to underdeveloped infrastructure, inadequacy of market space and unavailability of market information have been seen as the major constraints in improvement of small holder goat production. Stakeholders have reached a consensus that developing the goat market system will act as an incentive for small scale goat producers to commercialize their activities; however there is need to be accompanying market development with a variety of improved animal production oriented systems. Improvement of both goat marketing and production sub sectors for small holder goat producers will result in increased productivity, hence the need to employ breeding strategies which will help to increase goat output to sustain the developed market. The employing of improved marketing and production strategies jointly is a first step towards the establishment of a competitive goat enterprise. The marketing sector will open up and act as a critical link between the small holder goat producer and the consumer. The increased productivity will enhance the supply to the local consumer with meat of defined quality and consistent standard. This article has chosen to discuss about the possibility of using an open nucleus breeding scheme as a strategy to complement the goat market development initiative in Zimbabwe.