The Ministry of Agriculture distributed 90 new and improved breeds of pigs to farmers who had lost livestock during the December/January rains.

The animals were distributed from the Guyana Defence Force farm, Garden of Eden on Saturday a press release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said. Since the start of its assistance programme the ministry has distributed 400 breeding animals countrywide.

GINA said the animals are worth close to $17 million and are imported from the United States and Suriname. It said too by the first quarter of next year, the ministry would have distributed a breeding animal to every pig farm in the country.

Farmers said they are grateful for the initiative since it would help them to resume their livelihoods.