Local livestock farmers in Eastern Highlands Province are being equipped with vital skills and knowledge through training programs aimed at increasing productivity and strengthening the province's growing livestock sector.

According to Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL)- Livestock Officer in Goroka, Mr. Joshua Jim Muwei, they have a variety of programs to support the different forms to livestock farming.

“In the provincial DAL office in Goroka, we have fish program, honeybee, and goat, sheep and cattle programs to train farmers who want to go into livestock farming,” he said.

“They are equipped with the knowledge and skills to go raise livestock.”

These programs a most vital so to enable farmers to meet the demand for livestock in the province.

Mr. Muwei said there is demand domestically for livestock and there is potential to further grow this sector in the province, and also nationally.

Going forward, he said the demand for livestock, especially cattle are there and farmers come to the DAL office specifically to buy cattle for their stock. Hence, the proper support from State authorities must be channeled as well to this sector to see it grow further in the Eastern Highlands.