Reddy Advises Livestock Farmers on How to Grow to Commercial Farming
‘Construct a paddock, establish a fence and develop a paddock where you can manage your livestock holdings’
The Ministry of Agriculture’s distribution of fencing kit materials to livestock farmers is one of the first steps in helping them from being subsistence farmers to commercial farmers.
In handing over the materials to farmers in Vanua Levu, minster Mahendra Reddy said a challenge that hindered development and expansion of livestock farms was a proper paddock.
We do not want this investment to fail where after a couple of months a fence is broken and the sheep and goats are again outside the fenced area. Mahendra Reddy Minister for Agriculture
“There is an extent to which people can raise goat and sheep without having the proper paddocks,” Mr Reddy said.
“Our aim is to migrate our small subsistence farmers into medium and large holding.
“To do that, we will need to provide them with fencing kits.
“You can tether two to 10 goats individually but more than that is very difficult.
“What you need is a paddock. In the morning you guide them to the paddock and then you bring them back in the afternoon.
“So a binding constraint to migrate
from subsistence farming to medium or large holding is basically the ability to:
■ Construct a paddock, establish a fence and develop a paddock where you can manage your livestock holdings.
“And this is exactly what we want to do,to give you a leg up so you can establish your paddock.
“From there you need to grow on
your own and treat this as a business.
Mr Reddy said the ministry’s target was to reach and assist all farmers in the country.
From there, the ministry would see the farmer’s progress and look for more possible assistance.
“We want you to excel and become successful,” Mr Reddy said.
“We do not want this investment to fail where after a couple of months a fence is broken and the sheep and goats are again outside the fenced area.
“It will be counter-productive and will be of no use, so please reinvest in your farms for your own benefit and grow from here,” he said.