Viliame Cegumalua (standing), a dairy farmer from Tailevu, discussing a point at the Central Division’s dairy farmers meeting in Nausori. Photo: MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
By RACHNA LAL
The Ministry of Agriculture has started consulting dairy farmers to hear from them on areas in the dairy industry which need improvement.
Registered dairy farmers in the Central Division met with senior officials of the Animal Health and Production Division of the Ministry of Agriculture this week.
This was to discuss on what is hoped to be the way forward for the dairy industry.
Senior agriculture officer Animal Health and Production Division, Napolioni Seru, in a statement said this was one of the first consultation meetings with the registered dairy farmers.
“We have about 285 registered dairy farmers in the Central Division which includes bulk suppliers and smallholder dairy suppliers,” he said.
“The main objective of this meeting is to actually know from the farmers the areas that we can improve our service delivery.”
Separation of entities
What used to once be Rewa Dairy Company Limited was separated by Government into two entities.
One is Fiji Dairy Limited, the manufacturing part of the entity and the other is Fiji Co-operative Dairy Company Limited, which looks after the farmers and is the production arm.
Mr Seru said: “All we are trying to do is gather from farmers what are the areas that needs improvement after the restructure and also in terms of service delivery to the whole dairy industry.”
As a result of the restructure and in moves to revive the industry, Government last year sold Fiji Dairy Limited Southern Cross Foods Limited, a subsidiary of CJ Patel Group.
Issues discussed
Mr Seru highlighted issues looked at was the milk price, farm gate price, Government assistance for the farmers under the Dairy Industry Support Programme and also the ministry’s service delivery.
“This is in terms of staffing in our localities and this is an area that we would really like to strengthen,” he said.
“We are happy the issue was raised by the farmers and this will enable us to look at our man power, look at our capacity and the capabilities of our staff.
“This would be to deal with the current developments that the Government is trying to undertake in terms of our economic development.”
Government’s efforts
Mr Seru stressed Government is doing a lot to try and help develop the dairy industry.
He said as time progresses, the ministry will try to sort out the weaknesses and also assist farmers in the difficulties that they face in the industry.
More consultations are expected to be held with all stakeholders of the dairy industry.