Guyana says it is expecting to receive the remaining quota of the black belly sheep from Barbados before the first quarter of this year, as the country continues to develop a thriving black belly sheep project.
“I am hoping that the remaining set will be coming before the first quarter of 2023. We have already started the preparations in terms of building the pens, building the pastures, and getting things in order,” said Agriculture Minister, Zulfikar Mustapha.
“The 436 black belly sheep that are in Guyana, they are presently at the farms at the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA). As a matter of fact, we have had some increases because some of them have given birth. By mid-June, the program should get going aggressively,” Mustapha added.
The government is hoping that the black belly sheep project will allow the Caribbean to develop its own brand, replacing the New Zealand and Australian lamb that are being imported.
The breed is primarily raised for meat and other high-demand by-products.
“By the third quarter, I think everything should be in place. We should activate the process in by getting the farmers to start the process and they will receive their quota so that we could start the plan that we want to create. That initiative is moving apace.”
Guyana is playing a key role in the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM) efforts to reduce the region’s food import bill by 25 percent by 2025.
The first shipment of 132 sheep, including 20 rams and 112 ewes, landed in Guyana in August, 2022 with the country expecting to receive another 868.
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said then that the shipment to Guyana is part of the black belly sheep project and that the next shipment will be to Suriname.
“Improved food security continues to be a key area of focus for Barbados, as we work with our regional neighbours,” she said then.
Guyana launched the black belly sheep project with an estimated GUY$600 million (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) investment and a flock of 1,000 sheep is slated to arrive. Last year, the government in the national budget, set aside GUY $177.7 million for additional funding to support the project.
CMC/
