| dc.description.abstract | It is widely acknowledged that goats in developing countries fulfill multiple functions and can contribute to improved
livelihoods of smallholders. The multi-functionality of goats in rural Mozambique however is fairly unknown. The
objective of the paper is therefore to identify and create a deeper understanding of the multiple functions goats
currently play in the smallholders sector in Mozambique. The paper takes a sociological approach by advancing the
thinking that the functions of goats are socially and culturally constructed, and not ‘given’.
Qualitative data were collected by means of historical timelines in six communities and individual in-depth interviews
with 18 smallholder goat keepers (three per community) in Inhassoro district, Inhambane province. In addition,
findings of the quantitative baseline household survey (n=83) were used.
Results showed four categories of goat functions in Inhassoro district, based on respondents’ perspectives: 1) sale in
times of need, 2) exchange for services and products, 3) social life, and 4) consumption.
Based on these findings, the paper discusses implications of the multi-functionality of goats for development projects,
in which goats can function as financial saving and insurance, as contributors to food security, as contributors to social
capital, and as commercial production commodities. Subsequently, the paper addresses a few fundamental questions
about projects aiming to commercialize smallholder goat keeping, i.e. linking smallholders to markets. | en_US |
