News

Government and FCDCL to improve dairy industry

September 26, 2018 6:26 pm

The government is working closely with the dairy industry to implement an agreed package that will address the many problems faced by dairy farmers.

Fiji Cooperative Dairy Company Chair Simon Cole says the package has been designed by the Dairy Leadership Group as part of the New Zealand funded $10 million initiative to improve the industry.

Cole says the government has already introduced a farmer’s compensation package for lost cattle to tuberculosis.

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The package of interventions include – developing sufficient quality pasture and constructing proper fencing for consistent pasture rotation.

It also includes the targeted use of concentrate feeds particularly in early lactation, proper calf feeding including a milk replacer and a feed ration to ensure the viability of replacement stock and assistance with water reticulation
The Group is presently identifying money to fund the package including a proper price for a litre of milk.

Cole says they need the farmers to invest in the industry, benefit from the packaged improvements and they need to make profits as well.