Goats: Help Families Become Self-Sufficient

This year, Lambi Fund of Haiti continues to monitor and assist a total of 3 Goat Breeding projects from the previous year. Among them, one (1) is in the Artibonite Department and the other 2 are in the South Department of Haiti. The organizations currently leading these projects are:

• Rivière Blanch Peasant Development Organization (ODEPERIB)/Gwomon Artibonite;

• Groupe de femme active pour révalorisation Manich (GFARM)/Kavayon Sud;

• Association des Gens pour l developpement de Clonard (AGDEC)/Kavayon Sud

ODEPERIB

The ODEPERIB organization had a total of 15 goats that were pregnant and collectively gave birth to 21 kids, as several carried multiple offspring. Of the kids born, there were 8 male and 13 female kids. Unfortunately, there were complications affecting three mothers, resulting in abortions and a cumulative loss of five kids (3 male and 2 female kids).                                              

The abortions occurred mainly because some female goats sustained repeated blows to the abdomen from other goats’ horns while lactating. In response, members of the Organization have taken all necessary measures to reduce the risk of abortions within the project.

Despite these losses, the overall kidding season resulted in a positive net increase in the herd. The Organization, along with the veterinary technician, continues to closely monitor the health of the mothers and the surviving kids.

Considering the challenging conditions currently faced by Haitian farmers, including drought and limited food availability, the members consider the results favorable. According to the Organization, the goats are developing very well. All beneficiaries have followed the recommendations of the project’s technical team, particularly regarding adequate nutrition and water supply, which are essential for healthy goat development. As a result, the goats remain in good health and condition.

Both the members of the Organization and the Technical Team have expressed satisfaction with the outcomes and overall performance of this breeding project.

At this time, goats have not yet been distributed to new beneficiaries, as the kids are not strong enough to be released. However, all necessary preparations have been made to begin distribution during the first week of February 2025. The Organization has already identified the new beneficiaries who will receive the goats. A total of 16 female goats will be sold to meet the needs of 16 new members.

GFARM

As of December 2025, the GFARM organization progress is as followed. From the original starting point of 44 goats, the GFARM Organization currently has a total of 40 offspring, consisting of 19 females and 21 males. Since the inception of the organization, GFARM members have discussed, decided, and mutually agreed to return the first litter of kids to the Committee so that additional members can benefit from owning goats under the same agreed-upon terms.

These first-litter kids were successfully weaned and distributed during the months of June, July, and August. Subsequently, on December 26–27, 2025, the Committee distributed an additional 11 kids to 11 new beneficiaries.

Overall, the organization has added a total of 40 new beneficiaries. As a result, the herd has nearly doubled in size, increasing from 40 to 84 goats.

The goats are developing very well and have not experienced any health complications. Based on their growth and overall condition, the Organization continues to thrive in its goat breeding activities.

The provisions implemented by the Technical Team and the Organization to care for, protect, and nurture the goats have proven highly effective. In addition, the organization has access to medical treatments and provides preventative veterinary care, which has contributed significantly to the success of the project.

AGDEC

The AGDEC goat breeding project has now been running for several months. Here are the key results and developments observed during this period.

In September 2025, an additional 10 females gave birth to 12 kids (5 females and 7 males). Unfortunately, all of these kids died during Cyclone Melissa. As a result, the affected beneficiaries were required to keep the female goats until their next kidding, so that they may retain ownership through the next litter.

The organization distributed 48 kids to 48 new members. In addition, the Project Committee retained 4 male goats to replace 4 older males that had become aggressive and had reduced reproductive capacity.

Under normal circumstances, more goats would have been distributed during this period. However, due to the losses caused by Hurricane Melissa, the number of goats distributed remained unchanged.

Overall, the breeding process is progressing well, with no major challenges apart from the losses caused by Hurricane Melissa. Project members continue to take good care of the goats, which contributes significantly to their good health and condition.

Despite the hurricane, the herd has increased. Currently, the project supports a total of 103 beneficiaries (55 at the start of the project and 48 added in the subsequent reproduction cycles). As the goats continue to mature and reproduce, we remain optimistic that project performance and impact will increase in the upcoming year.

Lambi has a total of 5 Organizations that it is currently following in the field of Livestock. The organizations involved in these projects are:

• Rivière Blanch Peasant Development Organization (ODEPERIB): Goat Breeding
• Clonard People's Association (AGDEC): Goat Breeding
• Akil Gwomon Livestock Farmers Association (APEAG): Goat Breeding
• Manich Active Women's Group for the Revalorization of Manich (GFARM): Goat Breeding
• Haitian Peasant Collective Development Organization (ODEPCHA): Sheep breeding

ODEPERIB

Since the start of the project in March of 2025, all planned activities are going well. The ODEPERIB organization purchased several goats which are in good shape, so far. Currently, there are 22 goats that have mated and there are 8 left waiting for them to come into heat before mating them. Today, there are 15 breeders who are not members of the Organization who have mated their goats with goats in the project. Since the goats have not yet produced any offspring, we cannot speak about the results. We hope that in the next report, we will be able to give a true account of the evolution of the Organization's livestock (how many goats have been born...) and we hope that more people will purchase the mating service from the Organization.

AGEDEC.

The project started 14 months ago with a herd of 55 goats (50 females, 5 goats). During this period, 46 of the females have already given birth to 59 kids in the first litter (30 females, 29 goats). Among the kids born, 5 have died (4 goats, 1 female). The herd now has a total of 114 goats (55 mothers, 54 kids and 5 goats that started the project).

The project has maintained its 75 beneficiaries because after the first weaning, the Organization distributed 25 kids to 25 new members.

We hope that in the next report, we will be able to provide complete information on the progress of the project such as the number of beneficiaries within the Organization that has increased, the total number of goats in the herd, etc.

GFARM (STARTING END OF DECEMBER)

GFARM obtained 40 female goats and 4 male goats. Currently, 12 goats had given birth to 12 kids (9 females, 3 goats). Of this litter, 2 females had abortions. 8 females had calved again. 10 mated and 9 others had not mated yet.

GOAT CARE

In all breeding projects, there are 2 types of animal care provided; feeding care and health care. The members ensures that their goats receive proper nutrition. Therefore, the following types of fodder are used to feed the goats: Guinea grass, elephant grass, Guatemala grass, lespedeza hay, velvet bean etc.

The Veterinary Technician provides the goats with a series of preventive care for a number of diseases such as worms, diarrhea, and vitamin deficiencies. There are processes taken by the Organization to ensure that the stock of medicines are replenished. For example, in Artibonite, beneficiary members do not pay for the preventive care but they pay the same as the non-members depending on the medicine they are needing where rapid intervention is required.

In the South department, for example, direct beneficiary members pay a contribution of 100.00 Gourdes for preventive services that are carried out every 3 months. After that, whenever there is additional medicine required and payments are made out-of-pocket.

Due to the health measures taken by the Organizations, the goats are in good health. Follow-up visits by committees and Veterinary Agents is essential to success of the livestock.

BREEDING MANAGEMENT

In Artibonite, the members of ODEPERIB nor APEAG does not spends a single Haitian Gourde for the project’s goat breeding service. However, for those who are not members of the Organizations who request the service, they are required to pay a fee for it. In this regard, ODEPERIB charges outsiders to pay 100.00 gourdes for each breeding service, while APEAG charges non-membersa fee of 200.00 gourdes. In the South Department, the Organizations charge 50.00 gourdes for breeding services. Thus, in ODEPERIB there are a total of 15 female goats that have been crossed with the project goats, which allows them to earn 2700.00 gourdes. In APEAG, they have 39 females that have been mated with the goats, which allows them to earn 4350.00 gourdes.

IMPACT OF THE LIVESTOCK PROJECT ON THE AREAS, THE ORGANIZATION MEMBERS AND THE COMMUNITIES

The project is demonstrating gradual success. However, the Organization desires to expand to include more members of the community. The goat breeders have become more motivated to increase their knowledge in learning new ways to protect their animals, provide nutrition and medical care. Members of the Organization are becoming better at mastering goat breeding practices. Several small pharmacies has sprung in the regions that allow breeders to obtain medicine to care for their goats. The volume of goats in the communities has increased and many offspring are being born to satisfy more members and people in their communities