Goat importation surpasses 1,000

More than 1,000 goats have been imported into the island since last April under the National Small Ruminant Development Programme.

Floyd Green, minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, made the disclosure during the Hanover leg of the New FACE of Food engagement session at the Grand Palladium Resort in the parish last Thursday.

"The Government has only brought in 200, so it is farmers who have brought in the other 800, and they are using that to build their herds," he said.

Launched in 2021, the small ruminants programme is geared towards rapidly increasing the population of goats, primarily, in order to increase local production, productivity and the quality of small-ruminant meat and milk.

Farmers looking to bring in goats to boost their herd can do so duty-free under the programme. Breeds such as Boer, Nubian and Kiko are among those imported.

Green is encouraging goat farmers to take advantage of the initiative, and others, through the ministry.

"If you are into small ruminant goat farming, we can come and help you with artificial insemination to help you get better breed stock," he pointed out.

The New FACE of Food campaign is geared towards driving food security, agribusiness development, climate change technologies, and export expansion.