Clive Bryan, Gleaner Writer
HARTLAND, St Mary:
THE ST. MARY Milk Marketing Group, which is made up of small-scale dairy farmers, is to get a new truck for transportation of fresh milk. The truck valued at $1.8 million is government owned.
The presentation of the new truck will enable the resumption of milk collection by the dairy farmers group, which is one of the sub-projects set up by the European Union's (EU) Eastern Jamaica Agricultural Support Project (EJASP). Victor Edwards, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) parish manager for St. Mary, says the farmers should acquire full control of the new truck after three years. Nestlé is maintaining the vehicle in the first year. Farmers receive payment through the P. C. Bank where a deduction of $1.00 from the price per litre ($17.50) goes into a fund established for the maintenance of the truck after the first year.
President of the dairy farmers group, Keith Needham says the farmers are extremely anxious for the restart of milk collection as it was the only source of income for many. He says that there are currently 38 farmers in the group with approximately 150 cows supplying about 500 litres of milk daily.
Under current arrangements the milk is being sold to Nestlé at $17.50 per litre. The milk is tested for quality at the points of collection with an instrument provided by Nestlé. It is then taken by the farmers to a Nestlé refrigerated storage facility at Guys Hill, St. Catherine from where Nestlé collects the supply.
VERY NICE PROJECT
Phillip Webster of Nestlé says his company will buy from the farmers provided the milk is of good quality and there is a market for it. According to Mr. Webster, the enterprise "will blossom into a very nice project" and anticipates that the group will grow to about 200 farmers, each supplying some 15 litres of milk daily.
The management of the new enterprise is currently guided by RADA, Nestlé and the farmers. Management of the enterprise will gradually be turned over to the farmers who are currently being trained. Mr. Needham points out that arrangements are now being made for him to go on a one-month training course at Bodles Agricultural Research Station.
