Don't kid with goat industry

By Osmond Welsh, Guest Columnist

One of the major areas of import reduction spoken about by government officials and other persons is that of increasing goat meat production to offset importation from other countries.

Current estimates are that we produce between 10 and 20 per cent of the goat meat we consume. The other 80-90 per cent is imported at a cost of more than J$150 million per year. In this scenario, increased production is an absolute necessity, given our financial constraints with an International Monetary Fund agreement. In addition, this is an unanticipated need because of the lack of development of the industry.

In response, speedy action is needed on how development can be accomplished with the existing foundation, and how timely it can be done to have an impact. The first consideration is that of readiness of the industry to accommodate change and growth.

To begin, it is best to understand that goat rearing and goat-meat production developed as personal enterprises in villages by individuals who responded to their personal needs or that of their community. It is also necessary to understand that the goat-meat industry is the most underdeveloped compared with the poultry, pork and beef industries in Jamaica. The industry is still at the village-butcher shop stage, without any advanced abattoir preparation, or marketing system associated with it. It can best be described as being in its infancy.

Opportunity & preparation

However, notwithstanding its infancy, it is said that 'luck is when opportunity meets preparation', and the goat-meat industry is fortunately positioned with a level of preparation on which a modern industry can be built. It can be done in the following ways.

1. If seen as an imperative, a modern industry can be built on the structure which came about in 2009 as a result of the European Union Food Security Programme to make goat meat available to people in villages throughout Jamaica. This programme was completed in 2011 and has 13 locations in eight parishes with facilities for breeding and rearing goats.

2. It can be built if integrated into the current commodity programme by a donor country in which Jamaica is slated to receive more than 100 goats in a joint programme with Trinidad and Tobago.

3. It can be done if future funding is sought from donors for the expansion of the existing foundation to cover the six parishes not already included in the previous European Union-goat meat programme.

4. It can be done if the cost of feed, now estimated at 50 per cent of production, is reduced by farmers adopting a farmer-friendly method of feed production that can be produced on their farm.

5. It can be done if breeds more suitable for our environmental condition are brought in as the preferred stock for meat production.

6. It can be done if the administrative and technical requirements for staffing are done to facilitate operation.

7. It can be done if treated as an imperative in this time of austerity when creative ways need to be found to address critical issues.

8. It can be done if consideration is given to the nationwide scope of work to be done, the time available in which to do it, the technical level of guidance needed at all levels and the national significance of its accomplishment.

9. It is best done by government, which has the broadest set of skills on the ground in animal science and farming to make it work.

Osmond E. Welsh is immediate past president of the Jamaica Goat Farmers Association and is still involved in goat farming. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm and osssiewelsh@cwjamaica.com.