On Tuesday, October 20th, H.E. Remus Li-Kuo Chen, Ambassador of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to Belize, presented a cheque for BZ$744,000 to the Chief Executive Officer in the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Edmund Zuniga, for the implementation of the Cooperation in Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project.
In March of this year, the project agreement was signed by Senator Hon. Godwin Hulse, Minister of Food and Agriculture, and the Ambassador. It is a four-year project with an approved total budget of US$3 million, of which the Government of Belize will contribute US$500,000 as counterpart funding and the Taiwan Government will finance US$2.5 million.
The main objectives of the project are as follows:
• Assist Belizean farmers in improving the quality of the sheep and goats through enhanced genetics;
• Conduct market value chain analysis and implement a marketing program to promote consumption and market penetration for sheep and goat products; and
• Strengthen the Sheep and Goat Traceability System to improve value chain efficiencies and branding quality of sheep and goat products.
In the initial phase of the project, the Sheep and Goat Breeding Centre was established at the Central Farm Research and Innovation Center in the Cayo District, where improved and registered sheep and goats are now available for sale. Sheep and goat production have tremendous growth potential on the domestic market and on the regional export market.
The two governments expressed their desire and dedication for further strengthening of friendship and cooperative relations through the implementation of this project.
