A walk into Hon. Sumra’s farm in Kajiado and the first thing one will notice is the extremely calm and clean environment where he has kept goats. The setup is comprised of neatly organized structures to ensure his business thrives.
Over the years, Hon. Sumra has been known for his leadership skills, having served as the Embakasi South Member of Parliament from 2013 to 2017. He also has an acute sense for business opportunities.
In an interview, the successful goat farmer noted that his journey has been long and educational. Initially, goat farming was his way of connecting with nature, a passion that has since grown into a successful professional venture.
Hon. Sumra shared that he raises Kalahari Red, Boers, Savannah goats and Dorpers, among others, at his farm, MeatMasters Kajiado.
The smart farmer asserted that the most crucial aspect of goat farming is the quality of feeds. He first began by studying goat feeds at the Livestock Research Institute before seeking knowledge in other countries like Turkey, India, Pakistan, and South Africa.
Some of the nutritious meals he provides his goats include lucerne, sugargraze forage, millet, sunflowers, and yellow maize for energy. He also uses Boma Rhodes and Napier, though he notes that Napier isn’t particularly ideal for goats.
“People here in Kenya are just sending goats for grazing. I want all the goat farmers in Kenya to give as much nutrition as possible…goat and sheep farmers, don’t graze your goats and you don’t give supplements,” Hon. Sumra urged.
The legislator has specialized in improving the genetics of goat breeds and is committed to educating local farmers on how to grow their herds. He occasionally offers the young goats for sale at reasonable prices.
Some benefits of purchasing superior genetic breeds include the potential to breed and produce larger and heavier F1 offspring. Hon. Sumra gave a brilliant example of crossing a Galla goat with a South African buck.
He advises against sticking only to single-breed varieties such as Boer goats, noting that Kalahari Red and Savannah goats are also excellent choices, with Savannah and Galla goats being particularly well-suited for each other.
Their offspring mature faster in about one and a half years, and they tend to be costly, hence value for money in the long run.
Hon. Sumra stated that one doesn’t need a big housing structure for goats; cleanliness is key. Rather than spending on expensive structures to house the goats, he recommended investing in superior genetics as a first step, while maintaining farm hygiene.
Furthermore, Hon. Sumra also owns an organic farm where he cultivates crops like maize and sunflower on large acres. He grows most of the feed for his goats on this farm.
His goal is to share his experience in superior genetic goat farming by educating as many fellow farmers as possible. Due to hygiene and security reasons of his professional farm, he only consults with serious farmers, only on appointments.
“I want to educate them. Farmers, there’s no need to go to South Africa when South Africa has been brought here,” he said.
“This is a passion. I have come here to help a small Kenyan farmer to come up. I want to help Kenya as a country…I want Kenyan farmers to understand that I’m always there for you. I want to give all the advice I can to improve genetics.”