Sri Lanka exports goats to Male
Farhath Amith
Sri Lanka has commenced shipment of goats for exports to the Maldives government for breeding and training purposes through a private firm.
The goats are exported to the Maldives Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture which had selected the Sri Lankan firm, Fanam International for the first time last year. Maldives has been importing goats until then from India. Fanam International Director Farhath Amith told the Business Times that the company has been involved in this business of exporting goats procured from local farms.
The first batch of exports was in September 2015 when they sent five does and one buck with the goats sent to an island on the archipelago . The authorities in Male use these animals for breeding and to conduct training programmes to educate goat farmers on how to raise them, Mr. Amith explained. This year too Sri Lanka has been able to win the order for 10 does for the same client with the animals being air freighted to Male based on a request by the ministry.
SriLankan Airlines has been used in this venture since Mr. Amith believes they were able to carry the live animals in the form of bulk cargo.
The Sri Lankan goats are a breed referred to as “battu” which are very small sized goats selected from private farms in Hambantota last year and Pannala in Kuliyapitiya in 2016. The Indian breed of goats, Jamunapari would fetch more milk and meat, it was noted compared to the Sri Lankan export.