THE AGRICULTURE Ministry, through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), is encouraging farmers and other interested persons to get involved in pig farming, in the drive to increase local production to meet the growing demand for pork.
This is being done even as RADA, through its training division, heightens public awareness of its role in providing assistance to farmers for the growth of the sector.
The authority's aim is to train pig farmers to produce the animals economically and of a high quality, to be able to compete successfully on both the local and international markets.
GREAT DEMAND FOR PORK
So great was the demand for pork last year, that the Ministry of Agriculture is reporting that farmers had to slaughter their breeding stock to meet that demand.
Director of the Data Bank and Evaluation Division in the Ministry, Michael Price, informs JIS News that the local pig farming industry produced 7,468,000 kilograms of pork last year. He notes that currently, there are 6,253 pig farmers islandwide, with the majority residing in St. Elizabeth.
Speaking with JIS News about the value of the industry, president of the Pig Farmers' Association, Delroy Manya, says that according to the last survey, Jamaica produced $5 billion worth of pork products in 2003, and that about 85 per cent of the processing needs are being met.
Livestock specialist, Hector Smith, points out that RADA's role in pig farming is to advise and train farmers. "We advise them how to produce economically and competitively," he explains, emphasising that pig farming can create more jobs and provide employment in its spin-off sectors.
ADVISORY SERVICE
Giving more details of RADA's role, Mr. Smith says that advisory service begins from the construction of the pig farm, right through to management and the total development of the farm. RADA advises on management, record keeping, sanitation, health, production and marketing.
For persons who are interested in starting the process, Mr. Smith says, "You need to bring the plan or idea for your pig farm to us."
Some of the information RADA will need include the size of the intended farm, level of preparation, and the type of production which the farmer wants to get into, whether it is pig breeder or finisher. Farmers who are pig finishers are those who purchase the pigs to fatten them.
MARKETING
As RADA officers are knowledgeable about the availability of markets, they will also advise the farmer on how to market the pigs. Where farmers already have a market for their product, RADA will inform them how to produce quality pigs to suit that particular market.
The authority provides information on the pens that are required for the pigs and urges that the farmer should not put all his pigs in one pen.
Mr. Smith points out that the farmer may need a sow's furrowing pen, a weaning pen, a finishing pen and a boar pen. RADA, he assures, will advise on the construction of the pen to suit the particular class of pig.
- Jamaica Information Service (JIS) News
