By Salome Gangire

Neno, May 09, Mana: Neno District Council through Investing in Early Years project has distributed 300 goats to 15 Community Based Child care Centres (CBCCs) and 30 households worthy K18 million in an attempt to promote sustainable nutrition interventions and livelihood support in rural communities.

Speaking on Wednesday at Tikondane CBCC, Principal Nutrition, HIV and Aids Officer for Neno, Lucius Viligilio Njobvu said the programme is aimed at empowering local farmers, enhance food security and support the nutritional needs of children within the society.

“By introducing goats into the communities, the programme promotes sustainable livelihood practices, ensuring long-term food security and economic stability,” he said.

Njobvu observed that the exercise is meant to improve nutrition status of households as it is anticipated that they will be slaughtering the goats for meat to improve their diet as it is a source of protein which is essential for growth.

He said besides improving nutritional status, the goats will also improve household income since beneficiaries will be selling the livestock which will in turn improve livelihood of individual households.

“The goats are on a pass-on programme and once they produce, will be passed on to the next household, this intervention is part of the project sustainability once it phases out” he said.

Group Village Head Chidakwani in the area of Traditional Authority (TA) Chekucheku commended the initiative, saying the programme does not only support local farmers but also ensures that children have access to nutritious diet, which is crucial for their growth and development.

GVH Chidakwani advised the community to ensure the goats were properly taken care of as one way of sustaining the programme. She also urged her subjects to take full ownership and responsibility of the livestock.

Each household received five goats while the CBCCs received 10 goats each.