Lamb and mutton are restaurant delicacies across the world. The meats are also very popular in the local market, so much so that several requests have been submitted for their importation. Through the Taiwan I.C.D.F Sheep Project, the quality of meats being produced in Belize has increased over the years. Farmers involved in rearing these animals are preparing for the export market as the export avenues are being assessed. But the Ministry of Agriculture believes there is an opportunity to supply and even grow the local demand for lamb and mutton. To that end, a course has been designed to teach butchers, restaurateurs, and sheep and goat farmers about specific cuts and how to prepare them in the kitchen properly. This week, over fifty participants took the "Lamb and Mutton Culinary Craft Workshop" in Yo Creek Village. Today, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Agriculture Servulo Baeza told us about the long-term objective of the initiative.

Servulo Baeza, C.E.O, Ministry of Agriculture

"I don't think we are exporting as yet. We are looking at different markets, CARICOM and Mexico. I think the important thing is, and this has been my concern, we do have a local market. The tourism market demands a lot of sheep and I see because we also see the request for importation of meats and I see a large request to import sheep. So, we have to try to make sure that we make that connection between our farmers and the markets we have here presently. So, I would want to think that first we need to address the local market, and then we can go into the export markets. We have done a lot of work along with the Taiwanese. They have helped to improve our genetics so we have better breeds and we have more meat on the carcasses. But, I think we need to address the local market dirt and teach people how to cook the meat first."

Channel 5