Potential for increasing goat milk consumption for resource-limited communities in drought-prone environments.

Despite increases in the frequency and intensity of droughts, the importance of goats in providing milk for human consumption has received little attention. The objective of the study was to investigate the socio-economic factors that constrain milk consumption in drought-prone regions. Data were collected through the administration of a structured questionnaire to 200 households that owned goats. The most vulnerable households whose main source of income were government old age and social grant (40%; P < 0.05) were milking goats more than their less poor counterparts. Households with goat flock size < 10 were milking goats, while those with greater goat flock sizes were more focussed on chevon production. Households who were not aware of the nutritional benefits (78%) of goat milk did not consume the milk compared to those who were aware of the nutritional benefits (P < 0.05). Goat ownership influenced goat milk consumption, with farmers keeping goats being 20% more likely to consume the milk (P < 0.05). Education level was associated with milk production, with the odds ratio estimates 1.3 times in favour of farmers with lower levels of education. Farmers from the most vulnerable households were 1.7 times more likely to consume goat milk (P < 0.05) compared to less poor counterparts. Socio-economic factors should, therefore, be considered when developing strategies for increasing goat milk consumption in drought-prone, resource-limited communities.