- PHOTO BY ROGER ROBINSON
Schoolboys attempt to catch cows at the Minard Farms Estate, St. Ann, at the Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival last month.
THE RECENTLY con-cluded Minard Livestock Show and Beef Festival is the stellar event for showcasing Jamaica's cattle.
Each year, thousands of persons, especially school children, visit the show to see and learn about our local cattle breeds.
Each of Jamaica's four breeds of cattle has been developed over a 50-year period, representing more than 200 years of development.
The dedicated effort of all those who have been, and those who still are, involved in the process must be lauded and the rich heritage they have given us should be cherished and protected.
SURVIVAL THREATENED
However, a recent survey has shown that the survival of this heritage is being threatened seriously. The study indicates that the local cattle population has declined by approximately 50 per cent since 1990, and continues to contract. Such a trend, if allowed to continue, could lead to the eventual extinction of our local cattle breeds.
In addition to the potential loss of more than 200 years' work in cattle genetic development, the obliteration of the local cattle breeds would have far-reaching socio-economic implications for Jamaica.
The sector is critical to the country's economic, social, and environmental development.
With invested capital of almost $10 billion, the cattle sector (beef and dairy) is vitally important to Jamaica's economy, contributing $5.03 billion to GDP in 2003 and currently providing employment to approximately 8,000 persons in rural Jamaica.
The cattle sector is also critical to Jamaica's food security and is the major source of animal protein, which is regarded as being especially important to children's physical and mental development.
Compared to other meats such as pork and poultry, beef has very little imported content, thus placing less drain on Jamaica's foreign exchange.
CONTRIBUTES TO SOIL FERTILITY
The rearing of cattle is regarded as the agricultural activity that is most effective in poverty reduction and cattle grazing contributes to soil fertility in addition to being the most cost effective means of restoring mined-out lands.
The Jamaica Livestock Associa-tion (JLA) and the majority of stakeholders are committed to the survival and sustained growth of the cattle sector.
As such, the JLA, with support from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture, convened a conference and workshop from September 16-18 at Breezes Runaway Bay to develop strategies for the rescue and sustained growth of the cattle sector.
Conference and workshop participants developed a mission statement, which commits the sector to the development of a competitive, sustainable, and viable cattle sector that satisfies consumer demands, adheres to international food safety standards and promotes equity among its stakeholders.
In charting the way forward, stakeholders identified four strategic issues, which they felt are critical to the sustained development and viability of the local cattle sector.
RESTRUCTURING
It was felt that the number one priority was the restructuring of the sector, followed by securing appropriate development financing, increasing competitiveness, and attracting more youth and women to the sector.
Local, regional, and global trends suggest that the demand for beef and dairy products will continue to grow for sometime in the future. The World Bank is predicting that growth will continue for at least the next 15 years.
This is an opportunity the local cattle sector should grasp. But to do so will require long-term commitment, cooperation, and capital investment from stakeholders. Government will be required to facilitate and enable the process in a timely manner.
Given the expressions of commitment by stakeholders, including the Government, at the recently-held conference and workshop, it is fair to assume that, with the required effort, the vision for our local cattle sector will be realised.
And we will have even more to be proud of at future Minard shows.
