Fiji’s dairy farmers are moving closer to earning a proper price per litre for their milk.
Fiji Cooperative Dairy Company Industry Chair Simon Cole says currently a litre of milk is $0.94 cents which is well below the value farmers received in 2010.
Cole says however following technical meetings with members of the Dairy Industry Leadership Group, it was agreed that the price that will allow efficient famers to reinvest in their farms and improve their standard of living is $1.10 per litre.
Cole says they will announce the success of these negotiations to farmers as soon as it happens.
He says at this time, it is important that farmers are able to invest in their businesses that makes a sensible price imperative and the investment is needed to restore the local industry given the devastation of the national herd in recent years as the result of TB.
Cole adds that the government has indicated its willingness to fund a number of recovery packages, including assistance with replacement stock, improved pastures, better feeding through a cow’s lactation and other necessary infrastructure.
He reiterates that the removing of cattle due to TB is likely to continue for the next few years but most in the industry feel that the worst is behind them.
