Fifteen sheep and goat farmers from around the Stann Creek District participated in the workshop, where two Specialists from the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFSE) Mr. Andrew Mejia and Mr. Edgar Tuyud presented on topics including: ⅰ) introduction of sheep project, ⅱ) sheep health management, and ⅲ) sheep traceability system. The Taiwan ICDF specialist Mr. Eason Huang and the project’s field manager Mr. Istvan Metzger presented on topics including: i) sheep nutrition, ii) pasture establishment, and iii) supplemental feeding.

During the afternoon session, the staff of Fresh Water Creek farms demonstrated their daily sheep management activities, which fulfills the objective of the project that involves farmers teaching farmers, and included demonstrations on sheep feeding, sheep breeds, and vitamin application.

The workshop is another commitment of the Sheep Project Phase II to help farmers learn from farmers. The Sheep and Goat Project includes a budget of US$3 million for a four-year implementation of phase II, that was signed by the Governments of Belize and the Republic of China (Taiwan) in March 2020. The project’s objectives include assisting Belizean farmers in improving the quality of sheep and goats, promoting the domestic consumption of sheep and goat products and to export these products regionally, and strengthening the sheep and goat traceability system to improve value chain efficiencies in Belize.