Co-owner of Meka Co. Ltd, Annette Beckett, second from left, showing off the PINEHILL 2017 Best Overall Milk Quality Award which her company won, as Chief Executive Officer of the Barbados Agricultural Society James Paul, right, Chief Agricultural Officer, Lennox Chandler, left, and PINEHILL’s Dairy Operations Manager, Lorenzo Roach, look on.
MILK EASE coming
BARBADIANS can expect to see a reduction in fresh milk as a result of a highly anticipated cess on milk products.
The Cess On Milk Bill, 2018, which would provide for the imposition of a cess on condensed milk, flavoured milk, milk based beverages, and milk substitute beverages, at a level of ten per cent, will be presented to Parliament soon.
The cess will be used to finance a grant to local dairy farmers. These funds will allow farmers to reduce their farm gate price to the Pine Hill Dairy, eventually allowing the Dairy to reduce the shelf price of fresh milk, including its whole milk, two per cent milk, and lactose free milk, to consumers.
Dairy Operations Manager with the Pine Hill Dairy, Lorenzo Roach, said the cess is critical to the survival of the local dairy industry. He reiterated that the goal of the cess is to encourage more Barbadians to consume local fresh milk. The manager added that the cess will also allow the local dairy industry to better compete against heavily subsidised international dairy industries.
“We believe that when the price of fresh milk decreases, it will result in an increase in the demand and the consumption of the product, which in turn will make the local dairy industry more sustainable.
“Barbados has one of the highest farm gate prices in the world. This cess will go a long way in reducing this cost and to make our dairy industry more competitive,” Roach said.