27 November, 2016
Sri Lankan exporters can contribute more to the economy by exporting goats (live stock). The potential is immense, says Farhath Amith of Fanam International Pvt Ltd.
They recently exported a shipment of goats to the Maldives by air freight from Katunayaka. Amith says it was a breed called Jamunapari and the goats aged from 6-8 months. “The original parent stocks introduced to Sri Lanka about two decades ago from India. This breed gives more milk and has more meat weight than the local breed called BATTU,” he said.
This was the first time that Sri Lanka exported goats, adds Amith. He says when he visited the Maldives some time back he found out, the archipelago is importing goats from India. “I thought we could also try exporting goats from Sri Lanka.”
In 2015, the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture of the Maldives, floated a tender to procure one male and five female goats. “We were able to successfully win the bid and subsequently supplied the goats. Thereafter, the company received more orders. “We want to gradually increase our export orders.”
The Maldives imports goats for the purpose of breeding and farm training programs in order to introduce and create awareness of goat farming. However, Amith said the procedures and documentation process to follow was not easy.
“This is one of the biggest challenges we had to undergo as it was never easy to face these procedures since it is not like exporting a ready-made product.”
The farms have to be certified for maintaining the stipulated standards by the Area Veterinary office.
Airlines that export goat consignments also impose regulations. Goat cages need to have proper ventilation, water feeding containers with adequate space for the animals. The floor of the cage should be padded with paddy straw or Saw Dust.
At present the Maldives imports about 500-750 goats annually from India. “Their price is competitive and their export documentation and procedures for export is minimum and not cumbersome. On the other hand Sri Lanka’s goat price is higher than of India’s and the procedures are quite easy in India.”