Development of the Small Ruminant Sector in the Caribbean
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The development of the small ruminant industry in the Caribbean is considered a priority by ministries of agriculture and other stakeholders of the sector. To achieve this, support was requested to develop and strengthen the industry by building the capacity of farmers involved in small ruminant production and by enhancing the production and productivity of the sector. The overall objective of the project was to contribute to the modernization and strengthening of small ruminant development in the Caribbean in order to meet the challenges of addressing food and nutrition security more effectively.
What did the project do
The project strengthened the management skills of farmers in small ruminant production to increase the number and quality of animals produced for meat, and provided support to farmers’ associations and networks across the region as a means of sharing information and knowledge, and of improving the technical and managerial capabilities of their officers. It built the capacity of small ruminant farmers and livestock extension officers across the region in breeding strategies, feeding and nutrition, through the provision of training and the production of printed and electronic technical materials. It also supported the formulation of a small ruminant policy, and of small ruminant production and marketing models.Impact
The capacity of farmers and extension officers was developed in all participating countries. With government support, the small ruminant industry will continue to develop as a result of empowered livestock extension officers’ ability to deliver services and advice, and to work directly with farmers. The technical materials provided to farmers have improved enterprise management and, as demand for small ruminant products grows in all countries, it is expected that the results of the project will be economically sustainable. As an example of the project’s impact, in Barbados, around 4 000 mulberry seedlings were planted and nurtured in a nursery and distributed to farmers to establish their own plots. Incorporated into animal rations, the mulberry increases the amount of protein in ruminants’ diets, leading to greater productivity.Activities
- Draft small ruminant policy framework document prepared for selected countries.
- Small ruminant marketing and production models prepared for selected countries.
- Hands-on training in the principles of small ruminant breeding provided for more than 25 livestock extension officers from across the region.
- Training in small ruminant nutritional management provided for around 200 extension officers and farmers.
- Training in enterprise management provided for over 200 farmers.
- Study tour organized to the Greenland Livestock Station in Barbados for livestock officers from the Bahamas, Dominica, Grenada, Suriname, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Guyana.
- Inputs, including frozen goat semen, artificial insemination kits, mulberry seedlings, an ultrasound machine and equipment and tools, provided.
- Regional workshop held on small ruminant production.
Project symbol: TCP/SLC/3501
Project title: Technical Assistance to promote the strengthening of the Small Ruminant Sector
Contact: FAO Sub-regional Office for the Caribbean / Cedric Lazarus (Lead Technical Officer)
Download PDF: http://www.fao.org/3/BT825/bt825.pdf