On Wednesday, March 17, 2021, the Central Farm Livestock Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Taiwan Technical Mission hosted a one-day workshop for farmers from the Cayo District involved in sheep production.

The workshop aimed to build capacity among local sheep producers by conducting training for farmers to improve sheep production rearing techniques for the overall development of the sheep and goat industry in Belize.

The workshop is a part of the Genetic Improvement in Sheep and Goat Project. The objective of the project is to facilitate the production of quality breeding stocks from the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Center to supply farmers countrywide with quality breeds of Dorper, Katahdin and Barbados Blackbelly at affordable prices.

This year, the Ministry plans to expand the infrastructure of the facility by constructing a new barn. Additionally, it will procure another batch of breeding stock from the U.S. which includes goats of both milk and meat breeds. Under the terms of agreement of the Sheep Project, the Ministry will continue to provide technical assistance for farmers throughout the country via workshops and hands-on practice to improve their knowledge and skills in sheep production.

Facilitators included sheep project technicians and livestock officers from the Ministry and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority. Farmers were trained in general sheep husbandry practices including breeding management, herd health and nutrition including pasture management.