WESTERN BUREAU- The government has allocated $50 million to a goat-rearing project, aimed at boosting production of local mutton to satisfy a growing demand for the meat.

Agriculture minister Roger Clarke in making the announcement Thursday, said that although goat production in the country has grown over the last decade there is still not enough of the commodity to satisfy local consumption.

At the moment, the island, he said, is producing only 10 per cent of the country’s demand, the result of which was a growing increase in the importation of the meat.

In 2002, for example, the country imported 781,730 kilogrammes of the product at a cost of $82 million. A year later, imports almost doubled to 1,413,000 kg at a cost of $113 million.

The figures for last year are still being tabulated, but it is estimated that importation of the product has reached two million kilogrammes.

Clarke, who was speaking at the launch of a $4 million goat production project in Ashton, Westmoreland, noted that although goat production experienced a 10 per cent growth over the past five years, the government was not satisfied with the pace at which the growth was taking place.

“… it seems as though the more we produce is the more people want,” the agriculture minister said.

Efforts to increase goat production in Jamaica started in the 1970s but were intensified in the 1990s as a result of a number of collaborative efforts by several organisations to promote the adoption of improved production and management systems.

“But regardless of all those interventions we have not yet been able to reach the stage where we would like to reach,” said Clarke.

“In that regard, we have decided that we are going to make a special effort to move the goat population expeditiously over the next few years.” The Eastern Westmoreland Goat Production Project, which has the blessing of Prime Minister P J Patterson, the Member of Parliament for the area, forms part of the constituency’s development plan formulated after the 2002 general election.

Under the project, 30 farmers in the communities of Ashton, New Works and Belvedere will receive two does each, valued at $20,000.

The Rural Agricultural Development Authority, which has already provided training for the participating farmers, will administer the project, which will operate on a revolving scheme.

Patterson, who was present for Thursday’s launch, noted that the project was established as a result of his insistence to allow for economic growth, self-employment and the amelioration of the social conditions within the communities.

He urged the beneficiaries to care for the animals and to adhere to the terms and conditions of the project.

The Member of Parliament also sounded a warning to persons in the constituency who might want to steal the animals.

“You have some people who want to reap where they have not sown and they want to sell goats which they have not raised, and I hope that nobody is hoping, when they see these goats, to steal them and make a quick money,” said Patterson.

“Anybody who is a goat thief, is not only somebody that is to be condemned but when you do it in the country, you are running a serious risk with your life so I hope that those who have ears to hear will hear and refrain from any such action.”