Jamaican Dairy Farmers to Benefit from $20 Million Equipment Lease Programme
Source: DairyNews.today
Dairy farmers in Jamaica struggling with the financial burden of acquiring modern equipment now have access to a $20 million Equipment Lease Programme, designed to boost productivity and efficiency in the industry.
Agriculture Minister Floyd Green launched the initiative at Knockalva Polytechnic College in Hanover as part of the Dairy Livestock Innovation and Nutrition Programme (DLINK). The programme offers farmers preferential lease terms for essential equipment, including 15 mobile milking machines, 11 milk cooling tanks, and a harvester.
Driving Modernisation in Dairy Farming
Speaking at the launch, Green emphasised the importance of adopting modern technology to address inefficiencies in dairy production.
“In this modern era, we cannot continue to use outdated methodologies and expect different results,” he said. “By providing mobile milking machines, we’re enabling farmers to transition from labour-intensive hand-milking to a more efficient, productive process. Farmers who previously milked once a day can now milk twice, effectively doubling their income from the same animals.”
The equipment lease programme also aims to address operational bottlenecks. Green highlighted the efficiency of the harvester, which can process an acre of grass in minutes compared to days using traditional methods. “Time is money, and this investment will significantly improve returns for farmers while increasing national milk production,” he added.
Reversing Declines in Milk Production
Jamaica’s milk production has dropped sharply, from 40 million litres in the 1980s to around 12 million litres today, according to Lenworth Fulton, former president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society. Farmers and industry stakeholders, including Marlon Edwards of Edwards Dairy Farm in Hanover, believe the lease programme is a step toward reversing this trend.
“This initiative will ease the pressure on start-up costs and encourage more people to enter the sector,” Edwards said.
Sam Edwards, also from Edwards Dairy Farm, noted the importance of adopting conservation techniques like silage and hay production. “We can’t rely on cows grazing every day. Harvesting equipment will help reintroduce these methods into the dairy sector,” he said.
Future Expansion and Lease-to-Own Options
Green signalled that this is just the beginning of the programme, with plans to expand the range of equipment available and introduce lease-to-own options for farmers.
“Once we build up our equipment inventory, farmers will have the option to lease and eventually purchase the equipment. This will enable them to modernise their operations without the upfront financial burden,” Green explained.
Call for Increased Support
The Jamaica Dairy Development Board CEO, Devon Sayers, called for additional government funding to expand the programme further, particularly the cattle lease initiative.
“We need $250 million to import around 1,000 dairy cattle over the next five years,” Sayers said, noting that the identified cattle breeds are well-suited to Jamaica’s climate.
Sayers urged Green to advocate for more resources at the Cabinet level to support the dairy board’s efforts.
A Step Forward for Jamaica’s Dairy Industry
The Equipment Lease Programme marks a significant effort to revitalise Jamaica’s dairy sector, providing farmers with the tools they need to boost efficiency, expand production, and contribute to the national economy. As the programme grows, it promises to bring more farmers into the fold and strengthen the country’s agricultural landscape.
Driving Modernisation in Dairy Farming
Speaking at the launch, Green emphasised the importance of adopting modern technology to address inefficiencies in dairy production.
“In this modern era, we cannot continue to use outdated methodologies and expect different results,” he said. “By providing mobile milking machines, we’re enabling farmers to transition from labour-intensive hand-milking to a more efficient, productive process. Farmers who previously milked once a day can now milk twice, effectively doubling their income from the same animals.”
The equipment lease programme also aims to address operational bottlenecks. Green highlighted the efficiency of the harvester, which can process an acre of grass in minutes compared to days using traditional methods. “Time is money, and this investment will significantly improve returns for farmers while increasing national milk production,” he added.
Reversing Declines in Milk Production
Jamaica’s milk production has dropped sharply, from 40 million litres in the 1980s to around 12 million litres today, according to Lenworth Fulton, former president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society. Farmers and industry stakeholders, including Marlon Edwards of Edwards Dairy Farm in Hanover, believe the lease programme is a step toward reversing this trend.
“This initiative will ease the pressure on start-up costs and encourage more people to enter the sector,” Edwards said.
Sam Edwards, also from Edwards Dairy Farm, noted the importance of adopting conservation techniques like silage and hay production. “We can’t rely on cows grazing every day. Harvesting equipment will help reintroduce these methods into the dairy sector,” he said.
Future Expansion and Lease-to-Own Options
Green signalled that this is just the beginning of the programme, with plans to expand the range of equipment available and introduce lease-to-own options for farmers.
“Once we build up our equipment inventory, farmers will have the option to lease and eventually purchase the equipment. This will enable them to modernise their operations without the upfront financial burden,” Green explained.
Call for Increased Support
The Jamaica Dairy Development Board CEO, Devon Sayers, called for additional government funding to expand the programme further, particularly the cattle lease initiative.
“We need $250 million to import around 1,000 dairy cattle over the next five years,” Sayers said, noting that the identified cattle breeds are well-suited to Jamaica’s climate.
Sayers urged Green to advocate for more resources at the Cabinet level to support the dairy board’s efforts.
A Step Forward for Jamaica’s Dairy Industry
The Equipment Lease Programme marks a significant effort to revitalise Jamaica’s dairy sector, providing farmers with the tools they need to boost efficiency, expand production, and contribute to the national economy. As the programme grows, it promises to bring more farmers into the fold and strengthen the country’s agricultural landscape.
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