Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green (centre), converses with Dr. Gabrielle Young (2nd right), Livestock Support Manager, Nutramix; at the GOAT Seminar organised by Nutramix at Denbigh Showground in Clarendon on August 4, 2021. Others, from left, are Samuel Golding, Owner of Gold Mine Boers International; Trevor Bernard, President of the Small Ruminants Association of Jamaica; and Dr. Osbil Watson, Chief Veterinary Officer at the Veterinary Services Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Approximately 50 goat farmers participated in the seminar that focused on feed management for small ruminants, genetic improvement and breeding and selection of goats and sheep.
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Floyd Green, is encouraging farmers to embrace technology and report incidences of praedial larceny even as they work along with private sector partners and the Ministry to drive growth in the small ruminant sector.
“We need to ensure that we are practising a modern-based agriculture. Now we need to incorporate technology. We need to use research as the driver in what we do. We need to ensure that our investments are made on business principles, “said Green.
Noting that the small ruminant sector was an important element of food security, Green said the Ministry was taking a multipronged approach to developing the sector and outlined several initiatives that are being undertaken under the Small Ruminant Development Programme that was launched on August 3.
“We are embarking on a $50-million Small Ruminant Development Programme, targeting 6,000 farmers over the next two years. We want to ensure that you have access to the best genetics, so those farmers will get 1-3 strands of semen, free of cost, to use to drive their small ruminant population,” Green stated.
Additionally, the Ministry will be doing embryo transfers and bringing in new livestock to ensure that farmers have access to the right genetics. The programme also includes significant training around the field, husbandry practices, and the creation of fodder banks.
He was speaking at the Nutramix G.O.A.T Seminar held at Denbigh Showground in Clarendon on August 4, 2021 where he commended the company for leading the charge in partnering with the Ministry to drive growth across the small ruminant sector.
While acknowledging praedial larceny to be one of the biggest threats to the small ruminant sector, Green said that the Ministry was taking a greater stance against praedial larceny and was working with the Jamaica Constabulary Force to treat praedial larceny incidences more seriously. This includes the setting up of a Praedial Larceny Unit in each division along with an assigned motor vehicle.
This, he said, has been reaping some rewards with an 80% increase in arrests in 2020 over 2019, moving from 69 to over 100 and a 114% increase in operations for the same period.
Green also said that by the end of the financial year, Government would be changing the penalties for praedial larceny by increasing the fines to send a clear signal that it is unacceptable.
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