Agriculture Ministry Unveils Plan to Clear Jamaica Cattle-Tagging Backlog

The Ministry of Agriculture has rolled out a package of measures aimed at reducing a growing backlog in Jamaica's cattle-tagging programme, following sustained complaints from livestock farmers.

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green outlined the initiatives on Wednesday during the launch of the 128th general meeting of the Jamaica Agricultural Society at the Denbigh Showgrounds in Clarendon. The plan includes widening tagging services, boosting supplies of identification tags, recruiting community assistants, and introducing a temporary arrangement to help eligible animals reach slaughter where tagging delays have held up legitimate farmers.

Green said the steps are designed to keep pace with rising demand for tagging while allowing compliant farmers to stay in operation. Six new animal technicians are expected to join the Veterinary Services Division within the next four weeks.

"And we're going to deploy them to the parishes where we're having the biggest challenges. Additionally, sometimes the issue is not just the veterinary officer or the animal technician, but to get people to restrain the animals sometimes poses a problem. So, we're going to be hiring 100 community assistants to work with the Veterinary Services Division to go into the communities to help the farmers restrain animals so that we can more efficient system," Green said.

He also told farmers the ministry is securing tag supplies. "We have an order for an additional 130,000 tags that will come by the first week in August and that is in addition to 20,000 tags that we just got about 2 weeks ago. So, tag won't be the issue."

During July and August, the ministry will operate a temporary measure allowing legitimate farmers who have struggled to get animals tagged to move those animals for slaughter. Officials said the arrangement is meant to shrink the backlog while keeping farmers and butchers in business.

"So, the agriculture protection branch is working with RADA to work out the protocol around that. It will require that you notify the police. It will require that you have your receipts. You still going to need receipts. And it will only be for a set time period," the minister said.

Green urged farmers to arrange tagging well before they plan to sell livestock, rather than waiting until an animal is ready for market.