Belmopan. April 5, 2019. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, the Environment, Sustainable Development in collaboration with Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project is pleased to announce the approval of funding from the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to dispatch two personnel from the Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project to receive training in Taiwan.
Mr. Andrew Mejia, representing the Ministry, and Mr. Daniel Juan, a selected representative from the sheep farming community, will travel to Taiwan for a two- week training mission on “Operation of Sheep Farmer’s Association, registration of certified breeding sheep, traceability system, and trading system”. This training is beneficial for the sheep and goat industry in Belize as it is expected to equip the participants in the knowledge required to significantly enhance the function of the regional Sheep Farmer Association, establishing the information exchange platform for the local farmers, the operation of certification of breeding stock, and linkage of domestic and foreign markets. A properly operated Sheep Farmer Association and skilled marketing of mutton are essential for the continued development of the industry in Belize.
The aim of the Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project is to increase the productivity in small ruminants. Some of the added project activities planned for 2019 are already being met, the first one is the recent shipment of 34 Katahdin breeding stocks which arrived in the country in March. They are presently on quarantine and will thereafter form part of the breeding operation at the breeding center. Other plans in the pipeline are to acquire indispensable machinery for the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center, such as manure conveyors and elevators, to establish a digital system for breeding stock certification.
The Ministry of Agriculture will continue to dedicate countless time and effort working hand-in-hand with the Embassy of Republic of China (Taiwan) through the Sheep and Goat Project to continue the growth and development of the sheep and goat industry in Belize. Through the efforts already established between the two Governments, sheep producers in Belize are benefiting from quality breeding stocks supplied by the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center.
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Email: envirodept@btl.net or envirodept@environment.gov.bz
Website: www.doe.gov.bz
