(CMR) The Government, through the Ministry of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, has signed a contract with the Cayman Islands Agricultural Society (CIAS) to fund the importation of livestock to the Cayman Islands.
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Planning, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, Hon. Jay Ebanks and President of CIAS, George Smith at a meeting of the agricultural society at Constitution Hall in George Town recently.
The Ministry will provide $350,000 in funding to import approximately 180 heads of livestock animals to include 150 heads of cattle and 30 heads of goats.
In speaking to the farmers at the meeting, Minister Ebanks pledged the Government's support to the farming community, noting that “the Ministry will work with its stakeholders to enhance the growth of the agricultural sector to bolster the overall food and nutrition security of the Cayman Islands.”
“This strategy to import new animals to our Islands aligns well with our livestock development plan, which includes the reintroduction of embryo transplant, natural insemination, and an upgrade of the artificial insemination program. This will improve herd and beef quality, increase production as well as enhance the local genetics of the livestock sector. All of this will be supported by our establishment of the National Livestock Identification Tracking System,” he added.
Mr. Smith thanked the Ministry and the Government for all the support being provided to the agricultural sector.
The first batch of animals, being imported from the United States, is expected to be on Island during the first quarter of the new year.
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