Cattle farms can expect the sample breed of cows in a move that aims to boost local milk production.

Agriculture minister, Mahendra Reddy, said the improved breed of cattle would be given to tuberculosis- free farms.

“At the moment our milk production is about six to seven litres per day,” he said.

“The improved breed that we want to give them could yield up to 20 litres of milk a day per cow.”

The proposed substantial increase in milk production will only be remedied once the cattle industry has eradicated tuberculosis and brucellosis from farms, Mr Reddy said.

But while brucellosis remained under control, curbing tuberculosis was taking time.

Mechanisation
“What the ministry needs to give to the farmers are tractors,” Mr Reddy said.

Mechanisation was high on then agenda of the Agriculture ministry, as they provided:
– tractors,

– rice harvesters,

– livestock feed shredders,

– shaft cutters,

– bio-gas digesters, and

– honey extractors.

The ministry has a registered database of 90,000 farmers.

“At the moment, we have to construct 170 kilometres of farm road,” he said.

“We have now acquired increased machinery and progressively we will construct all these farm roads.

The ministry continues to support 70,900 farmers whose agricultural livelihoods were affected by floods.

“We had assisted 12,000 farmers with $250 cash,” Mr Reddy said.

The results have brought about a major increase in production, he said.

Returns on investment
The ministry received 9.2% output on returns on investment, Mr Reddy said.

“For the first time ever in 2020, we crossed the export of non-sugar agriculture over $100 million–$106 million,” he said.

“For 2023, our exports should be $121 million.”

Fiji Agro Marketing (AMA)
In 2019, the Fiji Agro Marketing transferred $1.5 million to farmers, Mr Reddy said.

In 2021, the authority transferred $5.8 million to farmers.

“We are supporting 70,000 farm households and about 10,000 vendors directly to the agricultural growth,” he said.

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