Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura

Comercio Sanidad agropecuaria

IICA bolsters the competitiveness of the dairy goat value chain in Trinidad and Tobago

Comercio Sanidad agropecuaria

IICA bolsters the competitiveness of the dairy goat value chain in Trinidad and Tobago

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

The Trinidad and Tobago Goat and Sheep Society as well as other entities are demonstrating the potential of the nation’s small ruminant sector and implementing significant changes to drive its development. 

LeyendExensionistas visitaron fincas de café en Costa Rica. 

Trinidad and Tobago, June 22, 2017 (IICA). The creation of a Dairy Stakeholder’s Committee; the development of a business plan that could increase production, productivity and market access; the creation of a marketing strategy; and the launch of a capacity-building program are some of the actions that have been carried out to improve the competitiveness of the dairy goat value chain in Trinidad and Tobago.

These actions stem from a partnership established in 2015 between the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Trinidad and Tobago Goat and Sheep Society (TTGSS), which has demonstrated the great potential of the nation’s small ruminant sector to contribute to food security and to the generation of sustainable employment opportunities in rural communities.

Together with IICA, the TTGSS established a Dairy Stakeholders’ Committee and developed a business plan with the aim of increasing productivity and market access to take advantage of the rapidly growing local demand for goat’s milk and cheese, as well as improving the livelihoods of TTGSS members and their communities.

Leyenda

Both organizations then teamed up with a group of stakeholders, including the Graduate School of Business Studies and the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of West Indies, to develop and implement a capacity-building program on best management practices for health and sanitation, feeds and feeding, breed selection, castration, hoof trimming and dehorning, pen design and construction, animal health and nutrition, milk handling and storage, cheese and yogurt production, and business management focused on record-keeping and entrepreneurship.

Additionally, efforts are currently underway to secure a centralized pasteurizing facility to supply milk to at least two supermarket chains by the end of 2017, given that the majority of milk produced by small-scale producers is sold at the farm gate.  Milk from small-scale producers will be sold under a TTGSS label that is currently being designed. 

To help small-scale producers make this leap, a marketing strategy was developed, providing information on market segmentation, promotion and branding, market penetration, marketing channels, pricing strategies and new product development.  One member of the Society is already supplying two supermarket chains with pasteurized milk, which is in high demand. 

The identification of the main challenges facing the chain, as well as the definition of possible solutions and approaches, played a crucial role in the abovementioned achievements. One of the first steps taken as part of this process involved gathering more than 20 stakeholders, who participated in a series of workshops.

Among other things, the stakeholders identified the need to:

  • strengthen the institutional framework to enhance sector support;
  • establish more solid coordination and dialogue mechanisms; and
  • broaden the technical capabilities of different chain stakeholders, including extension officers. 

The stakeholders also acknowledged the fact that, in order to effectively access and supply markets, it was necessary for producers, processors and others along the value chain to increase their ability to consistently produce high-quality milk and value-added products.

“The achievements to date are due to a great level of interest and enthusiasm within the industry, ignited by the focus, direction and leadership provided by the stakeholders’ committee,” stated Gregg C. E. Rawlins, IICA Representative in Trinidad and Tobago.

The support received from various agencies and institutions, as well as the capacity-building program for stakeholders, have played a significant role in helping dairy goat producers to meet their goals. 

 

More information:

Gregg C. E. Rawlins, IICA Representative in Trinidad and Tobago

gregg.rawlins@iica.int

Compartir

Noticias relacionadas

Buenos Aires

agosto 8, 2025

El futuro del agro es con ciencia, tecnología y agregado de valor, afirman en Bolsa de Cereales de Buenos Aires, donde homenajearon trayectoria de Director General del IICA

El Director General del Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA) fue distinguido por su defensa de los valores esenciales de la agricultura y por su visión internacional en un acto desarrollado en la Bolsa de Cereales de Buenos Aires, que es la entidad empresaria más antigua del país, fundada en 1854.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Buenos Aires, Argentina

agosto 7, 2025

La agricultura está destinada a jugar un rol crucial en la seguridad energética y abre una oportunidad para América Latina, revelan en Congreso de AAPRESID

El debate sobre el aporte del agro a la seguridad energética fue organizado en alianza estratégica con el Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA) que, luego del éxito de 2024, vuelve a tener una participación destacada en el Congreso, con una sección especial en la grilla de paneles magistrales, una muestra fotográfica y un side event orientado a las Agtech.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Buenos Aires, Argentina

agosto 7, 2025

Nueva narrativa de la agricultura debe atender necesidades de los consumidores y su construcción es colectiva, afirman en Congreso de AAPRESID con gran participación del IICA

El congreso, de tres días de duración, pone en debate los temas clave del futuro de la agricultura, vinculando ciencia y producción con foco en los escenarios de innovación. Es el segundo año consecutivo que el IICA tiene una participación destacada en este evento, uno de los más importantes del año para el sector agropecuario en América Latina.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins