Basseterre, St. Kitts, February 26, 2021 (SKNIS): While appearing on the radio and television show “Working for You” on February 24, Director of Agriculture, Melvin James, outlined some of the reasons for reviving Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence.
Mr. James said that in the past, Bayford’s had much livestock and was a place where schools used to travel to for picnics and field trips. He said that over time it dwindled until it was almost closed.
The idea of reviving it and making it a Centre of Excellence is to turn it into a breeding farm.
“The idea that we are promoting is that instead of farmers having to worry about raising young wieners, babies, they can come to Bayford’s and purchase,” he said. “So, we a thinking in terms of sheep, goats, pigs and cattle, especially beef cattle.”
The Director said that most of the cattle in St. Kitts came from milk stock, whereas the cattle in Nevis were from beef stock.
“Now the idea is for us to switch over, and both islands would use meat animals because we have stopped milking cattle for a while,” he said.
Mr. James stated that part of the plan to revive Bayford’s includes rehabilitating the pastures.
“Many of them have shrubs and trees which have to be removed,” he said. “So, you re-establish the pastures and use improved grass, and host and stock a number of high performing sheep and also cattle so that farmers can come. If they want ten young ones they can purchase them and you rear them just up to the point that they should be slaughtered.”
The Director of Agriculture said that farmers should move away from the idea of keeping animals for more than eight to 10 years because they are aesthetically pleasing.
“We want to encourage a business concept in our farmers,” he said. “A pig should not go more than eight months before it’s slaughtered.”
Mr. James noted that as the Ministry puts forward new concepts to farmers, farmers will be embraced and that Bayford’s will play a pivotal role in reducing the stress in caring for young animals, and hopefully make it more profitable for them to be in business.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, December 04, 2020 (SKNIS): To better manage the environment for future life and survival, the Department of Environment in St. Kitts and Nevis focuses on three broad pillars namely climate change, biodiversity, and ozone.
Climate Change is the changes in weather patterns that affect all sectors and human life; biodiversity deals with natural resources – plants, animals, and humans, while ozone deals with the banning of those refrigerants that destroy the ozone layer.
“From those three pillars then there are sub-sections within these relevant focus areas, recognizing that most of the Multilateral United Nations Agreements – the focal point within these agencies rest with the Department,” said Cheryl Jeffers, Conservation Officer in the Ministry of Environment and Cooperatives, while appearing on ‘Working for You’ on December 2, 2020. “I think it was strategically done that way to ensure that there is coordination, efficiency, and avoiding duplication of those responsibilities.”
Ms. Jeffers looked at the department’s motto: “Conserve, Preserve and Protect.” She noted that it fittingly sums up the responsibilities of the department.
“In terms of conservation… we see ourselves as coordinating some of the activities because we cannot do it alone. It requires us to have that level of collaboration and consultation with everyone – civil society, government, private sector, and children,” she said. “As such, most of the work that we do we have an Environmental Education Officer whose, responsibility, for the most part, is to disseminate information as it relates to the environmental matters that affect us on a day-to-day basis.”
When it comes to preparation, Ms. Jeffers said the department engages in quite a lot to promote the need to conserve what is there in terms of natural resources. “In terms of preparation, we do a lot also when it comes to water efficiency, water conservation practices.”
The Central Forest Reserve encompasses all lands above the 1000 feet contour. Ms. Jeffers said it is important to protect the area because that is where most of the island’s resources are found.
“In terms of protection, our key area for that relates to our Central Forest Reserve which is protected by law. It is done because most of our water is generated through that activity in terms of the Central Forest Reserve, and the government saw it necessary for us to implement such a policy to ensure that the level of sustainability in terms of the forest is protected,” she said.
Ms. Jeffers added that it serves to protect such resources because if you don’t, then persons will freely enter and remove or damage natural resources.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 25th , 2020 (ZIZ News)
By: Chaïra Flanders
The 2020 Livestock Farmer of the Year, Garrett Lewis, who is affectionately known as “Humble Dread” of Half Way Tree is using his experience to help aspiring livestock farmers.
ZIZ visited Humble’s Beef and Mutton Enterprise on Monday to get a better understanding of the work that is done on a daily basis.
In a brief interview with ZIZ News, Humble said lots of hard work and his love for farming are what keep him driven.
“It takes hard work and dedication if you may and you have to have a love for it. You can’t just be there saying well it’s a side job or something even though you could. Me, personally, I find that when you have an interest and you have a love, it’s easier to do that, you understand? It is hard work. You just have to be on timing with the animals, just make it a procedure and very two weeks you spray up the animals them so we know we keeping them clean. After the COVID loss we have certain incentives that you know if we were to be short on Bayticol again, we would implement certain things so therefore we wouldn’t have a huge loss of animals like I did in the past between 2017 to 2019”, he said.
Lewis said he felt pleased when he was awarded Livestock Farmer of the Year.
He said it was an honour to see his dedication recognised even though he did not receive any assistance for his animals and was able to overcome after losing a significant number from his herd.
“Basically the effect was pretty much harsh because at the end of the day it is a financial loss and you know you have to wait sometimes 2-3 years for the animal to develop to a certain poundage so you could gain maximum profit so to have to lose over 100 animals within mothers, calf, bulls that’s very devastating but even so reluctant, I still come out Farmer of the year so imagine producing that amount of beef, what is losing over 100 animals. So it just shows that there is room for improvement and if you really put your all into it you could really reach where you want to reach”, Humble explained.
As an experienced producer of beef and mutton, Humble Dread used the opportunity to share words of advice to those persons interested in livestock farming.
“I would say to the young famers that Agriculture is life. As one farmer said, it is we first life so at the same time it is not just a duck walk. If you are going to come into Agriculture as a youngster, make up your mind for hard work. You got to love hard work, you got to be willing to sweat and might I remind you that sweating is actually toxins so that’s a good thing and you are in the sun so that’s vitamin D so that’s a plus. But seriously on a serious note though, if you are coming into Agriculture, from what I have witnessed, don’t look for help. I say there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of subsidies so I would say to the youngsters them if you coming in, make up your mind to do it out your pocket, make up your mind to have a strong heart and just push because at the end of the day if you’re waiting for someone to push you, you are going to fail”, he explained.
The farmer said following his loss, he hopes to receive wire for goats, which he says will increase his mutton production.
He thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for rewarding his efforts and naming him “Livestock Farmer of the Year”.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, November 13th , 2020 (ZIZ News):
By: Chaïra Flanders
Efforts being made by the Department of Agriculture and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine continue with aims to strengthen, improve and increase livestock and meat production in St. Kitts.
This was evident following the donation of 3 Boer Buck goats to the Department of Agriculture at Island Country Farm in Parsons Village on Thursday morning.
The Department of Agriculture and Ross University entered into an agreement to introduce a Breeding Program with an objective to improve the federation’s local flock and the dress weight of goat carcass.
During brief remarks, Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Alexis Jeffers said “Ross has been a very good corporate partner in the area of Agriculture and more specifically in terms of improving the Breeding programme here in the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis”.
He used the opportunity to highlight the advantages of having our local farmers raise the animals to produce quality meat. He said our people can always stand confident with the type of meat that is being consumed.
“Throughout the world these days we are hearing about food and meat being raised in a lab or meat that is being glued together and exported to various parts of the world. Now the important thing about visiting a farm like this, you get a very good idea as to the effort that is being put into breeding these animals and raising them as well. They are being raised in a hygienic way, they are being raised in a humane way and that is what we want to happen here in the federation”, he said.
Dr. Sean Callanan, Dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine noted the importance of the Goat Breeding Programme.
“The importance here is the genetic diversification of animals and how that improves the quality of the animal and it basically ultimately ends up as the quality of the product that is on your plate. None of this would have been possible without the involvement of students and I do want to stress, we have some of them here today, that these were the brains behind this initiative and gave us the power to really move forward with it”, Dr. Callanan said.
The Dean also expressed that he was grateful for the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture and his team.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ron Dublin Collins commended goat breeders and Owners of Island Country Farm, Mr and Mrs Neal and Michelle Mitchell and said that it is the hope of the Ministry to expand the initiative to other farms as well.
Farmer Neal thanked all stakeholders for helping to make the program possible.
Associate Professor at Ross University, Dr. Aspinas Chapwanya, a representative from the Small Ruminant club at Ross University, Director of Agriculture, Melvin James, livestock officers and other officials from the Department of Agriculture were present at the handing over ceremony.
The Goat Breeding Program initially began in 2018 at Bayford’s but experienced setbacks such as sickness of animals, shortage of water and lack of transportation.
The animals were then moved to Island Country Farms in Parsons Village where the breeding resumed in March 2019.
Just about 40 offspring have so far been bred as a result of the program.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 14th , 2020 (ZIZ News): Plans are in place for 2021 to continue the work of the Department of Agriculture to transform its livestock programme by implementing new systems and programmes with the re-launch of the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence.
This is according to Chief Veterinary Officer at the Department of Agriculture; Dr. Tracey Challenger who was speaking during the re-launch ceremony of the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence on Wednesday.
She said there are a number of training programmes that will continue in 2021.
“We will continue our training activities for 2021 it will include training in production and financial management and methods for odor control in poultry pens.”
She added that the department will also be experimenting with alternative feed sources for poultry and swine as well as the reintroduction of a programme to manage access roads along with a project on paddock rehabilitation.
To combat theft, Dr. Challenger says the livestock unit will introduce the use of microchips to track livestock.
“The livestock unit will also introduce a sophisticated small ruminant housing model using free materials on the island, we have a problem with praedial larceny and one of the measures that have been put forward for 2021 is the availability of microchip to the farmers to help curb this praedial larceny.”
Dr. Challenger also said that the livestock unit will be implementing a standardized production system for each species of livestock for farmers to follow in an effort to maintain a certain quality of meat being sold to the public.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 15, 2020 (SKNIS): The Team-Unity led Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has delivered on its promise to further enhance the livestock farming sector by the re-opening and launch of the Bayford’s Livestock Centre for Excellence.on October 14, 2020, at Bayford’s Estate, St. Peter’s.
Minister of Agriculture, the Honourable Alexis Jeffers, during his address at the launch, said that “This is a dramatic and significant transformation of some one hundred and eighty-three acres of land into a livestock center of excellence which will directly benefit the farmers and country as a whole.”
“It is the start of a tremendous programme aimed at promoting food security by increasing livestock production through the implementation of modern and sustainable techniques with the view to significantly reduce the gap between imported and locally produced meat,” he said.
The minister said that “This programme will see the establishment of breeding programmes to maintain and support sustainable improvements in livestock production.”
“Livestock production constitutes a very important component of our agricultural economy and will enhance a nation’s ability to go beyond direct food production and benefit from the many by-products including skins fibers and fertilizers.”
“Our strategy is to ensure sustainable agriculture and to support the need for our food system to be sustainable and resilient,” said Minister Jeffers.
“Bayford’s will have a great influence on shaping livestock’s contribution to our food security of the future and will also contribute to improving animal welfare, maximizing animal health interventions and the benefits for animal farmers and consumers,” he stated.
“Our continued work here at Bayford’s will be realised through strategic partnerships with the aid of our partners and allied institutions, the business community, livestock farmers, animal health practitioners, and others and we will ensure coordination and collaboration for the advancement of the livestock industry,” said Minister Jeffers.
]]>Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 14th , 2020 (ZIZ News): Activities to commemorate World Food Day 2020 continued on Wednesday with the official re-launch of the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence in a ceremony held at Bayford’s Estate.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon. Alexis Jeffers explained that the re-launch of the livestock centre comes as part of the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to ensure food security and to decrease the federation’s reliance on imported meat.
“This is a dramatic and significant transformation of some 183 acres of land into a livestock centre of excellence which will directly benefit the farmers and the country as a whole. It is the start of a tremendous programme aimed at promoting food security by increasing livestock production through the implementation and modern and sustainable techniques with the view to significantly reduce the gap between imported and locally produced meat.
He added that through the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence a number of activities will take place including the establishment of breeding programmes that will “maintain and support sustainable improvement in livestock production.”
“The work here at Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence would include a new abattoir with modern meat processing facilities and capabilities, a poultry slaughtering and processing facility, a rabbit slaughtering facility, swine breeding programme, cattle breeding programme, small ruminant breeding programme and…a hatchery.”
The Minister also mentioned that the first phase of work on the Bayford’s Livestock Centre is on-going and it includes the paddock rehabilitation, fencing repairs, building repairs, construction of holding areas trimming and removal of overgrown trees and garbage.
During his remarks, Prime Minister, Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris has committed to giving his support to the initiatives under the Ministry of Agriculture.
“I will try hard to give support to the projects and proposals that will come from the Ministry of Agriculture so that the lives of our farmers could be better and richer, the lives of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis can be healthier and we can in fact begin to improve upon our revenues to exporting our products to some of the neighboring islands and importing less leaving the scarce foreign reserve to do other things that are necessary.”
During the ceremony there were performances from calypso artiste King Socrates and steel pan player Melvin Hewlette.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 11, 2020 (SKNIS): The Team Unity-led Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is committed to further enhancing the Agricultural Sector with increased developments in the Federation’s livestock farming.
Minister with responsibility for Agriculture, the Honourable Alexis Jeffers, highlighted during his World Food Day speech on October 10 that “we (the Ministry of Agriculture) are committed to supporting our livestock farmers by imparting practical, demonstrative, and interactive knowledge and hands-on-training and effective and sustainable extension services to farmers.”
“Our renewed mission is to manage, disseminate, and demonstrate knowledge among livestock farmers to improve livestock farm productivity and to provide farmers with greater access to appropriate services and inputs,” he said.
The minister also stated that the establishment of the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence will aid in the improvements of the livestock community.
“A bright future is around the corner for our livestock industry as we empower our livestock farmers and livestock extension personnel through training and extension services to develop a sustainable livestock sector in the Federation,” he said.
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