School Milk Could Boost Dairy Production

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, is finalising a programme that could boost dairy production, through the increased use of fresh milk in the school feeding programme.

Making the disclosure at a press conference on Wednesday (November 16), Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Robert Montague, said that the Ministry will continue to provide loans at four per cent to the industry, for pasture resuscitation and herd improvement, to support the expansion.

"With the dairy cess now operational, there is a sustainable source of funding to make additional investments in the sector, in relation to breed improvement, pasture management and herd development, through embryo transfer and artificial insemination,” Mr. Montague said.

The dairy tax, which was implemented in May 2010, is consistent with the Jamaica Dairy Development Board Act 2009, which provides for a Dairy Sector Revitalization Programme to improve efficiencies and enhance international competitiveness.

The cess applies non-discriminately to both imported and local milk, by applying a standard assessment to the respective fluid equivalent volume of each product. The cess is commonly used by countries, including the United States, to contribute to capacity building, including research and generic product development.

By Alphea Saunders, JIS Reporter