Brazilian genetic material to improve Honduran livestock

A protocol for the importation of genetic material from Brazil, which has already been defined by the authorities of the Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock (SAG) through the National Service of Health and Food Safety (Senasa), will be presented on Thursday, August 11, in the Honduran National Congress.

Before this, a follow-up meeting was held between Angel Acosta, vice minister of Livestock; Angel Emilio Aguilar, general director of Senasa; Carlos Zelaya, secretary in the National Congress; and Rafael Sarmiento, deputy and president of the Agriculture and Livestock Commission.

Angel Acosta explained that the meeting with the parliamentarians was aimed at working together with a vision of strengthening the agri-food sector following the axes established by President Xiomara Castro for the sector.

The strengthening plan for SAG-Senasa, the Bono Ganadero program, and the NAMA Livestock project were also socialized.

Carlos Zelaya, secretary of the National Congress, pointed out that “we were invited to learn about the processes that SAG is developing, specifically about the need to approve a protocol to import semen from Brazil and be able to support and improve our livestock genetics throughout the country”.

The procedures and studies carried out were explained to avoid any risk. “The protocol is well protected, and we hope that soon, with our support, it can be approved,” said Zelaya.

He added that “the SAG authorities also explained Senasa’s need for institutional strengthening of the regions and we are convinced that this is an issue that we have to do, SAG as a whole needs to recover buildings, have logistics in the departments, in the countryside, which is where the country’s wealth is produced”.

“We have committed to support the proposal for institutional strengthening by raising the budget mainly of Senasa through the Undersecretary of Livestock; we learned about the Livestock Bonus, which will have good impacts in the departments, supporting model farms, where they will be trained, setting up training schools for farmers to improve their production techniques.”

Also, “we learned about a project with the European Union for livestock farms, we are thrilled, convinced that the SAG as a whole understands the re-foundation of all production processes, of livestock that President Xiomara Castro is proposing in her Bicentennial Government Plan”.

He also pointed out that “this Thursday, a presentation will be made in the National Congress. Today, the head of the bench and president of the Agriculture and Livestock Commission, Rafael Sarmiento, was with us, we were there representing the board of directors and president of the Budget Commission, and that day the Commission itself and the Honduran people will know the protocol for the importation of semen from Brazil”.

Angel Emilio Aguilar said, “we hope that the protocol for the importation of genetic material will be approved on Thursday by the Agriculture and Livestock Commission, which would come from free farms in Brazil, under vaccination control; therefore, there is no risk for the country”.

“It is urgent to strengthen the regions because that is where the money that this institution receives through the services it provides comes from”, concluded Aguilar.

With information from La Tribuna