MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad on Wednesday assured that the local supply of chicken has been stabilised and prices are going down.
Speaking to members of the media following a tour of the processing plant at Bounty Farm Limited in Timehri, Prashad observed that the Guyana Poultry Producers’ Association (GPPA) has delivered on its promise because chicken prices have reduced significantly with the average prices being around $250-$280 per pound and in some places as low as $220 per pound.

“…I want to say that prices are going up… high prices on commodities are increasing throughout the world,” he pointed out.

However, he noted that chicken prices will go up because 70 percent of the ingredients to make poultry feed has increased significantly.

“The price of chicken will go up as other commodities; however, what we saw during the last six weeks– prices being $340 to $360 had nothing to do with increase in price on the world market alone but demand and supply,” he posited.

He reiterated that the government in response to the current situation has zero-rated hatching eggs, hence it will not attract any Value Added Tax (VAT).

Noting the significant drop in chicken prices, he said after next month prices are likely to come down because there will be more than adequate chicken on the market.

The minister commended the GPPA for their efforts and assured that his Ministry will work very closely with all stakeholders to ensure that food is available at affordable prices even though some of the increases are beyond their control.

He also noted that DIDCO is not producing chicken but he was informed by the President of GPPA that small farmers are coming on board and more chicken is expected to be on the market by next month.

The minister noted that our country is better off than other countries as chicken and beef prices are the cheapest anywhere in the Caribbean, adding that Guyana consumes 800,000 pounds of chicken a week.

He applauded Bounty Farm for maintaining their prices throughout the shortage and playing a leading role in the production of chicken.

Prashad said based on monitoring done, there is an adequate amount of chicken now and definitely for the next two months.

“…we have to keep monitoring the situation to make sure that there is an adequate amount of chicken at affordable prices for all Guyanese,” Prashad emphasised.

President of the GPPA, Mr. Patrick De Groot said that the association needs the Ministry’s help in relation to the hatching eggs information on the amount coming into the country by ocean freight so as to help in determining weeks in advance the production and be prepared if there will be a shortage.

He assured that he will speak to the relevant persons to have mechanisms in place to access information about the amount of hatching eggs coming into the country.

Assistant Managing Director of Bounty Farm, Mr. David Fernandes explained that currently they produce about 80,000 birds per week.

He said they have a fully integrated poultry farming operation producing birds from hatchery, rear the poultry on the farm and have their own feed factory and processing farm.

Fernandes said that the chicken is sold in their own retail stores and also they supply most of the major fast food facilities, shops and supermarkets countrywide.

The hatchery produces about 100,000 chicks per week and a major percentage is utilised by them, according to Fernandes.

He said the plant is capable of hatching 1,800 birds per hour and they process about 15,000 birds per day.

Government had granted licences for short-term importation last month to ensure chicken is on the market and the prices are relatively stable.

The Minister had met with members of the GPPA and representatives of the Guyana Stockfeed Limited, hatcheries and other stakeholders and was given the assurance that there will be an adequate supply of chicken by middle of this month.

The shortage was as a result of the three-week late shipment of hatchery eggs due to flight problems which led to one importer returning his consignment.

However, the prices were not expected to come down due to the rise in international prices in essential items such as stock feed as the production has increased tremendously.