With the aim of improving livestock breeding in the Cook Islands, close to 35 farmers, including some Ministry of Agriculture staff, are attending a three-day production and management workshop that started yesterday.

Cecilia Samuela-TouAriki, the Ministry for Agriculture’s director of advisory, said they are working on an artificial insemination project under the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), looking to improve breeds for pigs, goats and cattle.

Samuela-TouAriki said the training, which focuses on pig and goat production and management, is conducted by Dr Agnes Meredith through the FAO from New Zealand.

Dr Meredith visited Rarotonga in December to do scoping and get a better understanding of how local farmers manage their livestock.

Participants at the training are from Mauke, Aitutaki, Atiu, Palmerston and Rarotonga, while others have joined virtually from Penrhyn.

Samuela-TouAriki said the concept is for farmers to share their knowledge and learning from the training.

The participating farmers will attend a field visit today for practical training on livestock management.