Livestock Project Targets Youth

Contact: Primus J. Hutchinson

Tuesday, July 31, 2001 – Government is embarking on an innovative agriculture-based project aimed at helping young St. Lucians in the 16 to 35 age group to secure gainful self-employment.

Jointly developed by the Saint Lucia Rural Enterprise Development Project (SLREP), the Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) of the Ministry of Commerce and the Livestock Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Livestock Integrated Project is targeting persons interested in the commercial production of livestock. It is to be launched in early September.

According to Dr. George Joseph, the coordinator of the project and the officer in charge of the Southern Veterinary and Livestock Unit, the focus will be on rearing small ruminants like sheep, goats, pigs and poultry. There will also be a component focusing on animal health.

Participants will receive training in small business management from SEDU. Additional training in computer science will be provided by the Ministry of Community Development which will emphasize the community development approach of the project.

According to David Demacque of SLREP, the project includes provision for participants to access credit at all the micro lending institutions, for example the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF) and the James Belgrave Micro Enterprise Development Fund (Belfund), as long as they meet the criteria for loan financing.

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