Chief Godlove urges youth to invest in livestock farming

DAR ES SALAAM: BUSINESSMAN Godlove Mwakibete, popularly known as ‘Chief Godlove’, has urged young people to embrace livestock farming as a viable investment opportunity, advising them to move beyond dependence on formal employment and explore income-generating ventures.

He said livestock farming offers significant economic opportunities for young people willing to invest with patience, knowledge and commitment, noting that success can be built gradually without necessarily starting with large capital.

Speaking  with Daily News about his personal experience, Chief Godlove said his passion for animals had led him to rear pigs, beef cattle, dairy cows and horses, initially as a personal interest rather than a commercial venture.

However, he said the growing number of animals on his farms had prompted him to consider expanding into commercial livestock sales and potentially establishing butcheries.

He revealed that he currently keeps approximately 500 pigs, whose numbers have increased through breeding, prompting him to explore better ways of managing the growing livestock business, including reducing some animals and expanding grazing areas to manage operating costs.

Chief Godlove encouraged young people interested in livestock farming to start with animals they can afford rather than wait until they accumulate substantial capital.

He said even those with a small piece of land, including about one acre, could identify suitable livestock, such as pigs or goats, and gradually build a sustainable business depending on their resources and the surrounding environment.

He also advised young people with access to grazing land to consider buying underweight cattle, fattening them through proper feeding and selling them at higher prices.

According to him, the venture can generate profits if farmers purchase cattle at reasonable prices, control feeding and treatment costs, and establish reliable markets before selling their animals.

He further highlighted pig farming as an opportunity because pigs can reproduce more than once a year, allowing farmers to increase their stock over time when proper feeding, hygiene and veterinary care are maintained.

However, he stressed that prospective livestock farmers should acquire the necessary knowledge and understand the costs of animal feed, treatment and daily operations before venturing into the business.

In another message to young people, Chief Godlove urged them to reconsider their spending priorities, saying some spend substantial amounts on expensive mobile phones and luxurious lifestyles while overlooking opportunities to establish income-generating projects.

He advised them to set aside part of their money to purchase livestock and gradually expand their ventures instead of spending all their earnings on short-term consumption.

Chief Godlove emphasised that livestock farming requires patience, discipline, hard work and sound decision-making, adding that well-managed livestock investments can provide long-term economic benefits and create assets that can be passed on to future generations.

He encouraged young people to start with the resources available to them, seek proper farming knowledge and set long-term goals, stressing that financial success takes time and depends on using available resources to build sustainable enterprises.