Oman & Emirates Investment Holding sets up Omani Pedigree Goat Breeding Co LLC
MUSCAT -- A unique project that aims to develop a lucrative, year-round market for the most prized of Oman's indigenous livestock locally bred Omani goats is taking shape in the Al Abyadh area of Wilayat Nakhal in the Batinah region.
The goat breeding and rearing project is being established by Omani Pedigree Goat Breeding Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Oman & Emirates Investment Holding Co SAOG (O&E). When operational before the end of this year, the project will help create new opportunities for Omani farmers to market their livestock.
"This is the first project of its kind with potentially huge benefits for Oman's rural economy and the livestock farming community in particular," commented Awad bin Mohammed Bamkhalif, General Manager, Oman & Emirates Investment Holding Co. "We will not only provide a ready market for Omani goats, but also breed and rear pedigree species that in the long run will lead to the genetic improvement of the national stock of indigenous Omani goats."
The project is being established on a 150-acre plot in Al Abyadh at a total cost of around RO 1.4 million. The government is supporting the venture with soft loans of RO 450,000. Demand for locally bred goats is strong throughout the year, says Awad bin Mohammed, with prices tending to soar especially during Eid festivities.
"During the last Eid, the price per head jumped to a high of RO 170 against a seasonal average of RO 120, largely because of the demand. With this project, we will not only be able to provide Omani farmers with a market for their goats, but also ensure that consumers will be able to obtain their requirements of fresh goat meat at reasonable cost."
"We will also develop a marketing and distribution network that will allow for our livestock to be sold throughout the country. Although they will be sold live, we envisage the potential for tie-ups with distribution companies that will supply fresh meat for sale at supermarkets and other outlets, not only in Oman, but in the UAE as well. The ultimate goal is to offer healthy animals, bred and reared using modern techniques, as a source of high quality meat," Bamkhalif added.
The Al Abyadh facility is being designed for a capacity of 28,000 head of goats, of which 15,000 will be animals for rearing and the rest for breeding. The breeding programme is being structured to ensure that the genetic stock of the indigenous species will be gradually regenerated and improved, thereby creating a better pedigree of livestock.
Import substitution is another objective of the project, according to Bamkhalif. Total national demand for goat meat is estimated at around two million head per year, the bulk of which is imported from Australia and Somalia. Initially, the Omani Pedigree Goat Breeding Company will meet just 2.5 per cent of this demand, but the project's capacity will be expanded in phases as demand for home-grown meat increases.
To cater for the needs of local retail customers, the company plans to set up an auction area near its farm to allow for buyers to bid for their requirement of animals in much the same way it is done at traditional livestock souqs around Oman.
The goat breeding and rearing project is one of several industrial and commercial initiatives being pursued by Oman & Emirates Investment Holding on the back of a robust improvement in the Group's corporate earnings.
The company, jointly owned by the governments of Oman and the UAE, is exploring opportunities for investment in a range of projects, encompassing industry, tourism, aquaculture, real estate, biomedicine, and environmental and marine services.
By Conrad Prabhu
© Oman Daily Observer 2006
