Sheep & Goat Project Concludes; Meet the Graduates

Today at the University of Belize Central Farm Campus, stakeholders in a sheep and goat breeding sector graduated a cohort of students who participated in a program hosted at the National Sheep and Goat Generic Improvement facility out west. It is a joint cooperation between the governments of Belize and Taiwan News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

Meet the proud graduates – fifteen students from the University of Belize Central Farm Campus who participated in Breeding Sheep and Goat Production and Guidance System Enhancement Project. The purpose of the project was to build the capacity of the sheep and goat industry of Belize through cooperation between the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund and the national university.

David Kuan-Chou Chien

David Kuan-Chou Chien, Taiwanese Ambassador to Belize

“Through the cooperation between Taiwan and the technical mission the Government of Belize and the University of Belize, we are able to coordinate this internship program to provide these young and promising students with practical experience and the critical knowledge in the field of sheep and goat management which will equip them with useful skills for their future studies and work as well as benefit the agricultural development of Belize.”

Jose Abelardo Mai

Jose Abelardo Mai, Minister of Agriculture, Food Security & Enterprise

“Today the country is rebounding; agriculture is at the forefront together with tourism. Tourism is back and tourists eat food too so you have a greater role to play in helping us to develop this country. We are improving but we are not where we want to be yet. And you have a very important role to play.”

The small ceremony held at the livestock section at the Central Farm campus helps with the economic development of the country. Education Minister Francis Fonseca says that this is the goal of the ministry.

Francis Fonseca

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Education

“Agriculture is a key pillar or Belize’s economy, a key pillar of Belize’s economic growth and development. We have come to understand because of Minister Mai’s leadership and vision that there is so much more potential for agriculture being an even stronger pillar, an even stronger force in Belize’s growth and development going forward. It requires vision, it requires commitment, it requires a plan and it requires a good team. And very importantly, it requires that we have good trained workers, people who will fill the needs of that agricultural sector.”

Duane Moody for News Five.