FAO assists in Jamaica dairy farmers' restructuring programme

AS THE Jamaica Dairy Farmers Federation goes ahead with its restructuring process, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has offered assistance.

The FAO has provided the JDFF with a milk collection truck valued at US$38,000 with a capacity of 9,000 litres.

According to Mr. David Bowen the FAO's representive in Jamaica, the idea is to assist with the estbliahsment of a model dairy processing co-operative. "We are concerned about the small farmers. Those people in the country sides who have three and four cows on which they depend on for a living. They should no longer have to consume all the milk they produce that can't be sold. The idea is to have this truck go around and collect the milk under the auspices of the JDFF," he said.

Mr. Bowen said that emphasis will be placed on value-added products. "There will be a component to teach farmers how to process various things from milk, for example yogurt. The future of the milk sector lies greatly in value-added products and we must look towards that," said Mr. Bowen.

The JDFF said that the truck will be officially handed over to them this week and they are sure it will go a long way in aiding small farmers in getting their milk to processing points in good condition and in considerably less time.

"By next week we will be able to say where the point of processing will be," said Mr. Bowen.

The JDFF has benefitted from funding under the government's PL480 programme and head of that organisation Fiona Black has said repeatedly that the only way the sector can be revived is if farmers get more control, by being directly involved. The JDFF and the chief processor in the island, Nestle JMP Jamaica Ltd. have been at loggerheads over the price of milk and the volume being taken from farmers. The JDFF has, with the PL480 funding been looking to set up their own processing facility. The announcement of the processing plant is expected next week.

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