Farmers urge gov’t action to combat rising goat theft crisis
Published:Sunday | March 23, 2025 | 9:55 PMLeon Jackson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Lenworth Fulton, the immediate past president of the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS), is calling for strong legislative action and government investment in surveillance technology to tackle the ongoing scourge of praedial larceny.
According to Fulton, rampant livestock theft has severely impacted Jamaica’s small ruminant industry, leading to soaring goat meat prices that are now beyond the reach of small and middle-income earners.
“At $2,500 per pound for locally produced mutton, Jamaica will continue to import 85 per cent of the mutton consumed in the country,” Fulton lamented, highlighting the scarcity of local mutton in hotels and restaurants.
The increasing thefts have forced many farmers to reconsider goat rearing. Fulton stressed that investing in surveillance cameras, technology, and electric fencing to deter thieves is now a necessity.
Kenneth King, once a leading goat farmer in Trelawny, has already exited the industry due to repeated thefts.
“While it is a profitable industry, thieves make it hard to continue. You have to rear them so close to your house that you smell the urine. Even then, the thieves still come and reap where they have not sown,” King shared.
Another farmer, Winston Williams, has also suffered losses but remains determined to continue. However, he is calling on the government to provide more support to sustain the industry.
“I had four rams saved for Christmas last year. One morning, I woke up and one was gone. I had to sell the other three quickly to avoid losing them all,” Williams explained.
Mervin Whyte, who operates a farm in Granville, Trelawny, is continually implementing new security measures to deter thieves. He also criticised the government for failing to deliver on promises to supply farmers with high-quality breeding goats to improve local livestock standards.
“I’ve heard that goats have been imported, but none of the semen for artificial insemination has reached me yet,” Whyte said.
When contacted regarding Whyte’s concerns, Agriculture Minister Floyd Green confirmed that the foreign goats were in Jamaica but provided few details.
“The goats are at Bodles, and I will get a technocrat to speak with you and provide an update,” the minister told The Gleaner.
Despite the challenges, Trevor Bernard, president of the Small Ruminants Association of Jamaica, remains optimistic about the industry’s future.
“I’ve noticed growth. When you attend agricultural shows, you see the number of young farmers involved, and you can see the potential for expansion,” Bernard said. “This growth is crucial because it will help us reduce our import bill.”
With continued investment and stronger security measures, stakeholders hope Jamaica’s goat farming industry can regain stability and flourish once more.