THE Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA) yesterday briefed local small ruminant farmers on its plans for helping them to enhance their incomes under a component of the EU-Funded Agricultural Policy Programme (APP), which the authority has been asked to execute over the next 18 months.The objective of the APP-launched in 2013 and funded to the tune of 8.6 million Euros – is to enhance the regional and inter-regional capabilities of agricultural sectors in CARIFORUM countries in eradicating poverty.

The APP is being implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), partnership with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and the CARICOM Secretariat,

Women and youths are to be the main beneficiaries.

The small ruminants development programme for local goat and sheep farmers in Guyana is being implemented by the GLDA on behalf of CARDI and will run until December 2016

Resource persons at the inaugural event yesterday included Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr George Jervis; Programme Manager, Agriculture and Industry CARICOM Secretariat, Ms Nisa Surujbally; Chief Executive Officer of the GLDA, Dr. DindyalPermaul; Head of the Animal Production Unit of the GLDA, Dr. Gavin Peters; Senior Livestock Extension Officer and Coordinator of the small ruminants component of the programme, Selwyn Anthony; and senior agricultural officers within the sector.

A representative of the donor agency, the EU, was also among the attendees.

Participants included over 80 goat and sheep farmers hailing from all of the administrative regions, except Region 1 (Barima/Waini) .

In opening remarks, coordinator Mr Anthony disclosed that the APP programme for small ruminants will enable the GLDA to share with local farmers the best practices for small-ruminant production gathered from across Guyana and across CARICOM, so that they could effectively position their production in the market place.

PS Jervis urged the small- ruminant farmers to seize the opportunity to learn from the event so that they can eventually take their activities to a higher level of production and profitability.
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“This project will help you to move from farming small ruminants mainly from subsistence mode to the generation of wealth,” he said.

He urged them to aggressively market their sheep and goat meats, so that those products become part of the everyday menu of Guyanese households.

Dr Peters told farmers that they have every incentive for increasing production since the markets are available locally and regionally.

He said that the Caribbean had produced approximately 7.4 million kilograms of sheep and goat meats in 2008, but imported 14 million kilograms for that same period from as far away as New Zealand and Australia.

He said that the aim of CARICOM countries is to reduce those imports by 10% and this offered a great opportunity for local farmers in the sector.

Dr Dindyal Permaul told the sheep and goat farmers that the GLDA was committed to working with them and providing material assistance to them to move the sector to another level .

He said: “What we are committed to is to help you take your production to levels which will generate greater wealth; help you enjoy a better quality of life.”

During the session, the farmers offered feedback on the issues which have to be addressed in order for them to increase their production.

These included land, financing and supplementary feed,– especially during the rainy season — and veterinary support.

The farmers indicated their willingness to form a National Sheep and Goat Farmers Association and also indicated their desire to help in the process by electing a five-man steering committee to liase with the GLDA.
The steering committee elected comprises Carol Ann Benjamin of Region 2 (Pomeroon/Supenaam); Satnarine Sahadeo and Cynthia Foo of Region 3 ( Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) ; Andrew Cush of Region 4 (Demerara/Mahaica); and MrRambhajanRamlagan, Region 5 (Mahaica/Berbice) .

Anthony disclosed that the GLDA will soon hold meetings in the nine participating administrative regions towards the establishment of a national dialogue platform, which will aim to move the sector further along the path towards achievement of the APP programme objectives.

GLDA briefs small-ruminant farmers on plans to enhance incomes