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Poultry farmers contend with high input costs, threats of disease, rats, natural disasters and competition from imports. Imported chicken parts are about 40% cheaper due to economies of scale, availability of feed, cheaper utilities and labour. As a result, a large segment of the population depends on imported chicken as a source of protein.
Most inputs are imported and while the Government of Grenada provides concessions, many costs are increasing. Corn is a key feed ingredients; and prices are soaring since corn is the main biofuel feedstock in the USUSA. Grenadian poultry farmers, like their counterparts in many countries, are victims of the global biofuel boom in pursuit of alternate energy sources.
“The situation with corn is impacting tremendously on the price of feed and it’s going to get higher down the road,” according to Mr. Horace Hamilton, Regional Feed Sales Manager of Caribbean Agro Industries Ltd, one of Grenada’s main feed outlets.
Corn prices are also influenced by the global demand for wheat. Wheat shortages could result in reduced corn acreage, as grain farmers take advantage of record-breaking wheat prices.
With little control over the cost of inputs, farmers must keep operating costs at the lowest possible level by following proper pen construction, sanitation measures, controlling personnel who interact with the birds, vaccinating birds against Gomburo and Marex, and observing flocks daily.
The Grenada Association of Poultry Producers has 70 members, and seeks to serve all poultry farmers, which is estimated at about 300. With a motto of “promoting and protecting the local industry,” the Association organises workshops, disseminates brochures on production and safety issues and sells inputs at reduced costs. With an annual subvention of $50,000, the Association operates from the Ministry of Agriculture District Office in Grenville.
Administrative secretary Evelyn Decoteau said the Association plans to operationalise a 40-foot refrigerated container donated by the Ministry. The container is parked at Mt. Rush near the ALS Hatchery of Association president Alister Stanislaus.
“We have 5 or 6 big farmers who supply 75 to 80 percent of the market. It is amazing how beneficial it will be if these farmers come together with the smaller farmers. We have the business plan for the cooperative worked out. Farmers would drop their eggs twice weekly and receive payments 3 days later. The co-op would be responsible for all the marketing and selling,” he said.
Farmers must also prepare for natural disasters. Following Hurricane Ivan, the poultry sector was one of the quickest to recover; and the ARD motto of ‘*Build Back Better’* has been applied to many reconstructed poultry pens. |
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