President launches major black belly sheep project

The farmers at the meeting

President Irfaan Ali yesterday launched a major Black Belly Sheep Project in Region Five, West Coast Berbice which has 78 farmers on board already with an additional 1,000 black belly sheep expected to arrive from Barbados in the coming weeks.

With an initial investment of US$3M, President Ali presented a detailed plan with a series of slides to farmers at Onverwagt, West Coast Berbice on how the government plans to build the industry to maximum potential.  He said that Region Five will become the livestock capital of the country.

Stressing that the project goes beyond just building the farms, he then stipulated that at least 20% of the farms must be led by women and 35% by youths – persons below the age of 35.