Meeting our Poultry Needs

Barbados’ annual consumption of poultry meat has been estimates at around 15 million kilogrammes. Local production of poultry meat for 2010 was estimated at 14.1 kilogrammes which demonstrates our potential to supply the demand.

In fact, the President of the Barbados Egg and Poultry Producer Association (BEPPA), Wendell Clarke, was quoted in 2009 as saying that local poultry producers are more than ready and willing to satisfy all the needs of the local market.

“We can definitely satisfy all the needs of the local market,” he said. “We have the capacity to do it. We have actually done it before. We can supply more than what the local market needs.”

The activity in the sector is evidenced by the fact that over nine million baby chicks were sold by local hatcheries in 2010.

However, there are still imports of poultry meat. It is Government’s policy to allow a specified quantity of imports so that lower income persons have the option to buy turkey backs, wings and necks, but the local industry claims that this causes their growers to cut back their production.

$2.9 million in imports

In 2010, imports were valued at BDS $2.9 million. In addition, BDS $1 million was spent on imported offal of duck, geese and guinea fowls. In my opinion, this is importation of exotic birds is unnecessary.

It cannot be overemphasized that we need to support our own. Although it may be argued by some that imports inputs are use it the industry, it does use local inputs as well and also provides employment for a large number of persons.

Of course, there is also tremendous potential for increase exports. While I am sure it is not well known that Barbados exports poultry products, mainly via cruise ships, Senator Haynesley Benn, the then Ministry of Agriculture, noted in 2009 that since 1993 up to the present, there have been steady increase in poultry imports.

According to him: “trade data revealed 113 kilogrammes of poultry meat were exported during 1993, however, during 2008, 212.8 thousand kilogrammes of poultry meat were exported.”

Local companies have also been approached by companies in the EU to buy substantial quantities of local poultry products, but EU requires that the Chief Veterinary Officer, rather than the Chief Medical Officer, be designated the competent authority to oversee such exports.

Since the necessary legislation is not in place this opportunity cannot be pursued. Bearing in mind the importance of earning foreign exchange, the powers that be would be well advised to pursue this matter with urgency.

Although the sector appears to be fairly well organized, with system of contract growing with a system of contract growing of broilers in place, and players have shown a willingness to invest in modern technology so as to improve efficiency, it is not without its challenges.

Government has given some price support and as Senator Benn noted: “We propose to establish a Poultry Board to regulate the industry as well as develop a framework for a Poultry Insurance Scheme.

“We also plan to expand our poultry products by including smoked chicken and turkey in order to facilitate the expansion of poultry production in Barbados.”

While the Board sounds good in principle, the exact role would have to be defined and structure would have to be acceptable and beneficial to all stakeholders.

Following the recent seminar on agricultural insurance, it is hoped that a suitable insurance scheme can be designed for the poultry industry.

Taken from: The Nation News Paper

Written by: The Agrodoc