Nine Years of Growth: Sheep and Goat Project Ends in Belize

A closing ceremony was held on Monday to mark the conclusion of the Taiwan ICDF Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project (Phase II). The ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise (MAFSE) at the National Sheep and Goat Breeding Centre in Central Farm, Cayo District. It celebrated the successful completion of a nine-year initiative that enhanced Belize’s sheep and goat industry.

The event “marked a historical milestone of the Breeding Sheep & Goat Industry in Belize but also highlighted the country’s growth within this sub-sector,” the ministry said in a press release.

According to the ministry’s press release, the combined investment of BZ $12,337,108.00 from Taiwan ICDF and the Government of Belize resulted in significant growth within the sector, contributing to a 100% increase in production over the last decade.

“The project’s achievements included the construction of a state-of-the-art National Sheep and Goat Breeding Centre in Central Farm, the importation of genetic stock of sheep and goats, the training of over 900 farmers, teachers, students, and technicians, the establishment of a traceability system and the establishment of a functioning local market for sheep and goat products and by-products,” the ministry said in its statement.