Ninety-seven (97) beneficiaries of the Organization of American States (OAS) - Government of Chile Scholarship and Training Project for CARICOM countries received training from The University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) in Reproductive Management and Records and Analysis for Sustainable Agribusinesses.  This initiative stemmed from the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2018 by UTT and OAS.

Under this training programme, UTT's Biosciences, Agriculture and Food Technology Unit offered both courses through a blended learning approach (online platform and lab sessions) from October 1st - 8^th, 2019.

The Reproductive Management course provided livestock practitioners and professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to understand reproductive management goals and targets, and implement reproductive technologies and management practices. This included estrus detection, estrous synchronization, artificial insemination, timed artificial insemination, embryo transfer, semen evaluation, breeding soundness examination, pregnancy diagnosis and the evaluation of breeding records to achieve high levels of reproductive efficiency.  It is envisaged that participants will now have improved knowledge and skills in reproductive management and encourage best practices in using reproductive management techniques to enhance productivity of animals.

Professor Marlon Knights - Programme Leader at UTT’s Biosciences, Agriculture and Food Technology Department commended the OAS for launching such an important programme and challenged the participants to put the skills they acquired to good use.  Professor Knights further emphasised the importance of this training for Trinidad and Tobago, and reiterated that UTT was pleased to partner with the OAS and are ready to provide all necessary support to the trainees.

Participants in the Records and Analysis for Sustainable Agribusiness Course were introduced to managerial and record-keeping concepts and the tools needed to start and run a successful small agribusiness. In particular, the Course stressed the impact of record-keeping and performance evaluation on the ability of a small agribusiness to achieve its strategic goals. The main objectives were to enhance the participant’s ability to implement accounting and financial planning and increase proficiency in financial and production record keeping, and utilise these in the decision making process, in order to increase productivity and profitability of farm operations.

"We thank the OAS for this opportunity to impart such innovative training to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and to ensure that practitioners in the agriculture field are endowed with the rights skills to modernise and enhance their operations," said Professor Knights.

For more information on this initiative please contact the International Office and Grant Funding Unit at internationaloffice@utt.edu.tt