Dairy farms in the country are currently meeting less than 50% of the national demand for milk, according to Assistant Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna. He highlighted that farmers are facing significant challenges in fulfilling this demand.
“The production area cannot sustain the demand,” Tunabuna remarked, outlining the struggles faced by local dairy producers. A major factor contributing to the low milk production is the presence of tuberculosis among the cattle.
“Tuberculosis was the cause of the decline in cow numbers,” he explained. Although affected cows have been removed from farms, efforts continue to manage the situation alongside the culling of sick cattle.
During a training session held in Labasa, the minister reiterated that local farms are unable to replace cows that have been removed due to infection. He also pointed out that Fiji relies heavily on milk imports from New Zealand and Australia.
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