Friday, July 4 2008

LOCAL production of fresh milk has dropped by an average of one million litres per year since 2000.

Dairy farmers have blamed this huge drop on poor quality feed supplies, lack of veterinary care and livestock theft.

But, consumers need not panic since officials at Nestle said there were no plans to increase the price of milk since all types of milk remained a controlled item and Government sets the price. Farmers for some time have complained of the treatment they receive.

President of the Goat and Sheep Society, Shiraz Khan said there were many problems plaguing the industry. He said many veterinarians were not willing to go out to the farms and as a result the industry suffers.

Khan said there was the need for more veterinarians specialised in cattle. He also complained of feed supplies. He said Nutrimix was the main supplier of feed and often times there were problems with regular supplies. Livestock larceny is also a big problem for dairy farmers and theft of animals was a regular occurrence, which was frustrating to farmers who spend big money to purchase the animals.

Khan said dairy farming was not considered as viable and called for more to be done to attract more people to get involved in the industry.

He also said incentives would be welcomed by dairy farmers in order for them to compete with international suppliers. Most of the milk - liquid and powdered - consumed locally are imported.

“How can we be expected to compete with heavily subsidised American and European products when Government does not give us any support or aid.”

In a response, officials at the Ministry of Agriculture said programmes were being implemented to help the milk production industry. One of the programmes already introduced was the production of a hybrid grass or forage-based feed.

This would cost less than one third of the price of concentrated feeds now being used. The new feed is also expected to yield more milk per cow.

The ministry said they were also planning to improve the technology used in milk production, including the acquisition of ultra-sound equipment.

Nestle officials also said they were working with the Ministry of Agriculture to help revive the local milk production industry.