THE POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIAL MILK GOAT PRODUCTION IN THE ARID EASTERN CAPE REGIONS: ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
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Dairy goats appear to be the most suitable milk producing animal species for the arid parts of the
Eastern Cape Province. Dairy goats fetch high net returns to a small-scale farmer. A study was
carried out to evaluate the long-term economic viability of investments in dairy goats, in the
Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Results of the study show that commercial production of
dairy goats, together with a milk processing plant in the region, would be profitable and would
have benefits from both economic and social points of view as well as for the environment. With
a discount rate of 15%, the Net Present Worth (NPW), Benefit/Cost ratio (B/C) and Internal
Rate of Return (IRR) were found to be R4.3 million, 1.44 and 54% respectively. Further, a
sensitivity analysis to changes in benefits and costs of inputs was conducted. This found the
above proposal to be viable, even when benefits are reduced by 25%. The project proposal was
still viable when cost of inputs was inflated by 25%. In both cases, the Benefit/Cost ratio is
greater than 1 and IRR is greater than the current market rate of interest. However, the
combined effect of reducing the benefit by 25% and inflating costs by 25%, would result in
negative NPW. Results from a survey carried out further show the possibility and viability of
producing satisfactory levels of milk from dairy goats in the Eastern Cape.