Agriculture minister calls for adaptation of technology in livestock sector

Hon Karl Samuda (right), Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, hands over goats to Marcia Davis, member of the Lydford Women’s Group, following the signing of a grant agreement contract between the Ministry and the group for the donation of five Boer goats at the Hounslow Demonstration and Training Centre in St. Elizabeth on Friday, February 17. The signing was part of the opening of the Ministry’s Small Ruminant Reproductive Facility, which will assist with the rapid multiplication of improved genetic quality and conservation of small ruminants. At centre is Donovan Stanberry, permanent secretary in the Ministry.

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon Karl Samuda, has said that in order for Jamaica to be able to provide the quality and quantity of cattle and small ruminants that will satisfy both the local and international markets, Jamaica must adapt the appropriate technology for the development of the livestock sector. He was speaking at the opening of the Small Ruminant Reproductive Facility located at the Ministry’s Demonstration and Training Centre in Hounslow, St. Elizabeth, on Friday, February 17.
“We have to turn to the adaption of appropriate technology and there is no finer example of the application of the appropriate technology than exists in agriculture, said Minister Samuda.
The agriculture minister further stated, “I am fascinated by the work that is being done here,” and commended the research team for the excellent job being done in developing new strains of sheep and goat, as well as the maintenance of the pastures, stating that this should be replicated at the other research stations across the island.
Minister Samuda also had high praises for everyone who contributed to the successful operation of the research station, including input suppliers such as Hi-Pro and Nutramix, the technical experts and the workers.
The Small Ruminant Reproductive Facility is part of the Breeding and Multiplication Component of the Diversification of the Caribbean Livestock Sector through the Production of Small Ruminant Project funded by the New Zealand Government, the Common Fund for Commodities, Caribbean Development Bank, CARDI and the Government of Jamaica. Its main objective is to assist with the rapid multiplication of improved genetic quality and conservation of the animals through the use of assisted breeding technologies such as embryo transplant, artificial insemination and embryo and semen collection for utilisation and storage.
In addition, the Ministry has benefitted from the implementation of two small ruminant projects valued at US$2m that is aimed at building the capacity and resources of farmers and technicians. To date, over 300 farmers and 16 technicians from the Rural Agriculture Development Authority and the Veterinary Services Division have been trained. Also, 19 offspring have been born using embryo transfer technology and 269 animals have been distributed to 70 farmers and agricultural learning institutions. These institutions include the College of Agriculture, Science and Education, Ebony Park HEART Academy, Knockalva Agricultural and Dinthill High schools.
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