Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud urged farmers at the West Berbice Sheep and Goat Farmers’ Association’s Third Annual Exhibition and Gymkhana to collaborate and to capitalise on the investment government has made to help them to boost and develop their livestock.
According to a Government Information Agency press release Persaud said that the ministry has been encouraging farmers to form an association or groups to better realise their potential. “The livestock sector is an area that we are giving tremendous attention to and all categories of livestock, and we are doing so as part of a larger programme of agriculture diversification because we are confident that there is tremendous potential if we are able to develop livestock and other agricultural activities,” he said. To achieve this goal, the ministry has embarked on an agriculture diversification project which aims to increase exporting non-traditional agricultural commodities.
The mixed breed Creole, Mixed and Santa Ines, Texana and Cross Santa Ines and the Barbados Black belly ram and the Texel rams were on display at the Norman Singh Memorial Turf Club at Number Six Village, West Coast Berbice. Persaud said the sheep and goat sector holds tremendous opportunities for rearers to become commercial farmers. “Over the last year-and-a-half we have been able to revolutionize the sector especially with the genetic improvement, particularly for sheep and goats…” he said.
Farmers were also taught to recognise the signs, causes and treatment of animal foot-rot and toe abscess and they were encouraged to utilize the new genetic stock in expanding their operations; as government continues to support the sector. The release said the minister also handed over a trophy to Lloyd Narine who was judged the most improved farmer in the competition.
