Agriculture Minister Alfred Prospere says this initiative is not the first of its kind as the Ministry aims to improve the quality of livestock and processed meat in the country.

“Just on Sunday last week [April 14th], a team of experts from my ministry left for the US to select a number of new bloodlines we are bringing into Saint Lucia, and that includes swine, and sheep. And that is a total of 154 animals that are expected to arrive in Saint Lucia by the end of May,” he explained.

The Minister explained that the objective is to increase the quantity of livestock on the market, thus making processed meat more accessible. He says the Ministry is also working to resume processing at the Vollet Station in Micoud.

“We want to really get the Volet Agricultural Station in Micoud operationalised as soon as possible. We are also in the process of constructing an artificial insemination lab at Vollet, where we will use some of those new breeds to be able to boost the livestock sector.”

Prospere adds that the Ministry is springing other plans into action to bring some ease to the lives of farmers.

“That means all the challenges and the disruption that they face in recent times. We still have a lot more for farmers and fishers under the programme. We are going to begin very shortly a farm labour programne to assist our farmers with labour, as we know that's a serious challenge for them,” he said.