The Ministry of Agriculture has stated that there were indications and signs of the impending brucellosis crisis back in 2009 and they needed to act fast and just as they thought they had managed brucellosis, tuberculosis in livestock was another serious issue that they had to face.
Minister for Agriculture, Inia Seruiratu highlighted this at the Calf Rearing training for livestock farmers which was conducted by the Ministry in collaboration with Prime Consulting International from New Zealand.
Seruiratu says it was something that could have been avoided but it had happened and that the Fijian government is committed to ridding all of these issues to save the dairy industry in Fiji.
The objective of the training was to minimize issues faced by the dairy and livestock sector in replacing stock due to negligence in rearing proper and healthy calves, resulting in cows not giving birth until after three years.
He says there is an increased budgetary allocation in the 2018‑2019 financial year for the brucellosis and tuberculosis Eradication Campaign in order to return to normalcy and for improved performances.
Seruiratu says he has been questioning why cows are producing 5 to 10 litres of milk at their best when they can do better and produce more.
He says there are a few serious issues that need to be addressed.
He says the government is committed to the dairy sector and they are in talks with development partners in New Zealand and Australia.
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