“Analysis of Consumer Acceptance and Optional market Strategy for exporting goat Meat from Mississippi and Other Southern States into Jamaica”

The project commenced with meeting of representatives from Alcorn State University (Drs. S. Scott and I. Forrester and Ms. Andrea Tillman) and from the Agribusiness Council of Jamaica (ABCJ-Dr. Wood, Mrs. Elise Gomez, and Members of Goat Breeding Society of Jamaica) in the summer of 1999. During that phase, a cooperative agreement was established and a detailed work plan was developed. During the first year certain changes, such as employment changes In the winter meeting of 1999 the focus on a re-programming strategy was done.

In terms of technical programs, the following was accomplished:

1. The study was partitioned into six (6) areas based on an Industrial Organization approach

• Demand
• Supply
• Market structure
• Conduct
• Performance
• Public Policy

To date we have collected data and analyzed the swine to be used in the demand and supply areas.

2. Completed and tested the questionnaire to be used in phase H of field survey.

3. Collected data on ten (10) years of domestic meat production and imports prepared by STATIN (Statistical Institute of Jamaica).

4. Field visits to farmers, abattoir and the proposed development site of GBSJ for slaughtering and processing of imported carcass. The preliminary data and results are helping in two ways:

• providing U.S. goat producers with information on the kind of cuts that are more marketable -- the targeted importers -- the competitors etc.
• helping Jamaica's leading goat meat producing entity and policy makers to organize the industry.

5. Field surveys were completed in March 2001 by Dr. Samuel Scott.