Feed pelletiser storage building among initiatives planned for livestock industry this year
Senior Minister in the Office of the President with responsibility for Finance and the Public Service, Dr. Ashni Singh, during the presentation of the 2025 National Budget, provided insights into some of the initiatives planned this year for the livestock industry.
Among the initiatives are the construction of a feed pelletiser storage building, a modular pig slaughtering and processing facility at Garden of Eden, and modular duck processing facilities in Regions Two and Six.
The government also plans to acquire incubators for hatching eggs and establish poultry zones for improved biosecurity and economies of scale. To execute these initiatives, a total of $1.7 billion was budgeted this year, which is an increase of $1 billion compared to last year.
During his more than four-hour-long presentation, Dr. Singh said that substantial progress was made in advancing the livestock industry last year.
He noted that 2024 saw the establishment of a broiler breeder facility for the poultry industry with a capacity of 5,000 birds to reduce the dependency on imported eggs, the distribution of thousands of broilers and ducklings, and improvements to pens utilized by farmers.
Other key initiatives he mentioned include the opening of 60 five-acre plots for pasture in Regions Three, Four, Five, Six, and 10, the construction of a beef abattoir at Onverwagt, the upgrade of quarantine stations to prevent the entry of exotic animal diseases and acquisition of adequate lab testing kits.
