Schools being targeted to increase Jamaica’s milk production

THE MINISTRY of Agriculture and Fisheries, through the Jamaica Dairy Development Board (JDDB), is targeting several agricultural education institutions with the potential for milk production as a strategy to increase the country’s stock.

They are Munro College and the Sydney Pagon Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy in St Elizabeth; the College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE) in Portland; Ebony Park HEART Academy in Clarendon; Dinthill Technical High in St Catherine; Knockalva Polytechnic College in Hanover; and the Northern Caribbean University in Manchester.

The institutions will play an integral role in moving the island’s current production of milk from 8.2 million litres to the envisioned target of more than 30 million litres by 2030.

At a meeting with the JDDB at the ministry’s offices at Hope Gardens in Kingston on Thursday, September 24, Agriculture Minister Floyd Green urged the board to attract as many young people as possible to the initiative.

“When you set up those first-rate dairy farms in those schools, you will work with them to get other students in and around the area to visit the farms and educate them about the business, so it will spark an interest in them in relation to dairy production,” he said.

The minister also lauded the work of the JDDB in the production of excess silage, especially for cattle during times of drought.

Meanwhile, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the JDDB, Everton Parkes, in accepting the minister’s charge, said the plan will be to provide the schools with fodder banks and additional pastures, and animals for milking.

“This will allow for more animals in the industry for milking, which will lead to increased production. We are also linking students with technology so that brighter minds can start to think of creative ways to increase the production process. This is an investment in the future,” he said.