In photo: IICA Representative for Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Gregg C.E. Rawlins and participants.                

 PRESS RELEASE

The office of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Trinidad and Tobago collaborated with the Trinidad and Tobago Goat and Sheep Society (TTGSS) in hosting a two (2) day workshop on Training in Value Added Production of Goat Milk at the IICA compound, # 10 Austin Street, St Augustine on January 19-20, 2012.  The workshop targeted twenty five (25) participants from  the TTGSS, The Network for Rural Women’s Producers, Trinidad and Tobago arm (NRWPTT) and students from the University of Trinidad and Tobago(UTT) and the University of the West Indies (UWI). The workshop was set against the backdrop of the vast potential for producing value added products from local goat’s milk and the need to increase knowledge and understanding of appropriate food safety practices in producing such value added products.

In welcoming participants to Day one (1) of the workshop, the IICA Representative, Mr Gregg Rawlins, expressed great satisfaction with the high turnout and urged attendees to use the training to produce agri-food products that could compete and effectively access both the local and international  markets.  Also addressing participants was Dr Anthony Griffith, Director TTGSS and President of CAPRICO, who highlighted the vision and goals of the TTGSS for 2012.  Resource persons and facilitators from IICA, UWI and the TTGSS covered topics which included:

•  The Nutritive Value of Goat’s Milk. 
•  Food Safety Principles and Practices.
•  Quality Assurance in Handling Milk and Milk Products.
•  Value Added Products from Goat’s Milk.

The facilitator for the practical session, Mrs Michele Singh, Department of Food Production, UWI, provided hands on training in the production of Ice cream, Yogurt and Cheese from pasteurized goat’s milk.

On day two (2) of the workshop, participants engaged in Product Sensory Evaluations where they were able to taste and critique their products.

This workshop is in keeping with the Technical Cooperation activities for the IICA Trinidad and Tobago office for the Medium Term Plan 2012-2014.  IICA is a specialized agency for the promotion of agriculture and rural well being in the Inter-American System with a focus on the delivery of technical cooperation to make agriculture competitive and sustainable in its thirty-four (34) member states in the Americas.  TTGSS is a registered association of Goat and Sheep local farmers and producers who have started a processing and marketing initiative as a means of adding value to the output of their members.  IICA has been working closely with the TTGSS for the past three (3) years and will continue to partner with this group by providing technical assistance through capacity building initiatives thereby allowing them to become successful agri-entrepreneurs.

This workshop was one (1) component of a series of workshops which is scheduled to take place on Value Added Products using Goat’s Milk.   IICA will be conducting this workshop in the sister isle together with the Tobago House of Assembly(THA), where participants will be exposed to advanced cheese making  among other value added products from a local expert. For additional information on IICA, visit our office located at # 10 Austin Street, St. Augustine or call us on (868)-645-4555, 645-5020 or visit our website on www.iica.int and www.iica.int/trinidadandtobago