REGIONAL PROGRAMME LAUNCHED TO INCREASE GOAT, SHEEP MEAT PRODUCTION

JAMAICA has endorsed a regional programme that seeks to improve the stock of sheep and goats in the country while training persons in animal husbandry, with particular emphasis on small ruminants.

The Latin American Small Ruminants Programme and the Caribbean Small Ruminants Capacity Building Programme are funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, and the Government of New Zealand.

Apart from Jamaica, it involves six other Caribbean countries, namely St Lucia, Guyana, Belize, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, and Grenada.

Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, J C Hutchinson said the project, launched here last week, will provide immense benefits to the Caribbean.

According to the minister, there has been a high level of mutton and chevon imports into the Caribbean and the development of the small ruminants programme, at both the production and capacity-building levels, will ultimately lead to a reduction in imports.

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Hutchinson said his Government was particularly pleased with the capacity -building aspect, which will ensure that major scientific developments take place at the Hounslow Animal Research Centre.

The project is being implemented jointly by the agriculture ministries of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) being the executing agency.

Hutchinson said, so far, Jamaica has seen tremendous developments in its small ruminant stock.

“This project …has facilitated the further rehabilitation of the Hounslow Demonstration and Training Centre as a pilot training site for the region, by improving the carrying capacity of thelands to support the Government’s expanded small ruminants… inclusive of locally improved goat and sheep breeding and establishing demo housing as part of the training programme,” Hutchinson said.

CARDI’s scientific officer, Norman Gibson said very soon the Caribbean could be producing most, if not all the mutton and chevon which is required in the region, while ensuring that players in the small ruminants industry are well trained in all areas.

He said some 80 people have already been trained as part of the capacity-building programme.