Director of Livestock Department Mr Banabas Kega standing at the back with Deputy Directors Ricky Wate and Hearley Atupule together with livestock officers at the livestock conference room.
Refresher training for livestock officers underway in Honiara
A four-day refresher and induction training for Livestock officers of the Ministry Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) is currently underway in Honiara.
Commenced on Tuesday 26th October 2021 at the Livestock Conference room, the training is to equip newly recruited livestock officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure they have confidence in them when discharging their responsibilities to support farmers.
Deputy Director of the Livestock Department and who is also the facilitator of the training Mr. Hearley Atupule said his officers have the qualification but certifying they have the practical knowledge and skills to do actual field work is important.
“Qualification is one thing but the practical side of it is another and so this training is to impart our officers with the required understanding and skills so that they can perform their duties with more confidence.
“Also it is time we pass the knowledge and share the experiences to our young officers.”
He said the first two-day of the training will be in theory while practical or field demonstration activities is scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week.
Meanwhile, Director of Livestock Department Banabas Kega encouraged his officers to take the time to learn in the four days of the training.
“This is a good time for younger staff to learn from the experienced members of the team, there are many things we can learn whilst in college and university, but the skills and techniques you build in the field, and so I encouraged you to take the time to learn in the four days of the refresher training.”
Mr. Kega said there are plans in place to extend similar training to colleagues in the Extension and Biosecurity Departments of MAL.
Livestock officers from Western, Malaita and Honiara attended the training. Those from other provinces are not able to make it due to certain circumstances.
Topics to be covered during the training include; Animal Welfare in Solomon Islands; Pig diseases and parasites in Solomon Islands; African Swine Flu (ASF); Sick animal treatment and Veterinary Medicines. Castration or iron injection; disease identification and animal handling and drug administration on animals will be performed during field practical this coming Thursday and Friday.
– MAL Press