Judges, at left, examine Jamaica Hope cattle during the recent Denbigh Agricultural, Industrial and Food Show. - Christopher Surju

Christopher Serju, Star Writer

Successive administrations are to be blamed for the parlous state of Jamaica's cattle industry which, over the last 10 years, has plunged from 350,000 head to just under 100,000 today - beef and cattle combined, according to Dr Henry Rainford, chief executive office and chairman of the Jamaica Livestock Association (JLA).

In respect of dairy, the veteran agriculturalist pointed to the importation of milk powder as being directly responsible for destroying the local industry. He also lamented that the dairy and beef sectors have not been granted any of the incentives accorded poultry, citing an obvious bias.

"You look at the tax policy today,. I mean, chicken is excluded from GCT (general consumption tax) whereas beef and other meats producers are included to pay GCT," he told the Star.

Sense of urgency

Pointing to the decades of hard work that went into building the local cattle industry, reversing the downturn requires that stakeholders act with a sense of urgency, according to Dr. Rainford.

"It's years and years of work. It's not like growing vegetables, or even chickens, that within a short time you can turn it on or turn it off. The beef industry is long term, so it is not going to be able to get it back where it ought to be in a hurry, but certainly we should make a start because very limited imported content is necessary for development."

He cited hectares of land which have been left fallow for too long and called for a comprehensive plan to find a way to put those "idle hands and idle lands to use and the beef and dairy industry should be developed along of course with ruminants".

Dr Rainford was appointed CEO of the JLA in 1963 and is now in his 51st year with the company.