From left: CEO of the BAS, James Paul; President of BAS and Barbados Pig Farmers Association, Woodville Allen-Jones; and President of the Barbados Beef and Dairy Association, Brian Allan, as they addressed the conference.
The island’s dairy industry is back on track again and it is all thanks to an initiative implemented by the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS).
So says President of the Barbados Beef and Dairy Association, Brian Allan, who noted that last year’s crisis was over, as not only was there an increase in the quantity of milk being produced, but its quality has also risen. This he attributes to the importation of 194 Holstein and Jersey cows from Florida; a move which was facilitated by the BAS.
“It has been a very successful programme whereby the milk has increased tremendously. Pine Hill Dairy was down to two or three days’ stock. It was becoming a serious crisis, but that was resolved with the importation of the cows and now there is more than an adequate supply of fresh milk for the country. So we are very happy with this programme,” he stated.
Allan also disclosed that the first rebate for the farmers for importing the cows was received from the Ministry of Agriculture, to reduce the loans for these animals. In addition, the rains have also added to the success of the industry leading to better supplies of hay and foliage and therefore a higher quality of milk, in terms of the solids and proteins.
“All in all the industry is on track again and it is mainly because of the initiative brought into the BAS,” he told the media on Thursday at the BAS’ Grotto, Beckles Road offices.
Meanwhile, Woodville Allan-Jones, President of the BAS and Pig Farmers Association also gave an update on that industry, stating that while it currently was doing well, it was an expensive venture compared to those in other Caribbean islands.
“In Jamaica, they have access to things a lot cheaper than Barbados has, their feed is cheaper because they have access to the feed companies and we don’t. We depend on buying feed. Trinidad has the same privilege. They have access as well. So we find it is more expensive for us to produce pigs. You have to be strong because the profit is there… but you have to be very disciplined,” he added. (JMB)