…says Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister
MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad yesterday announced that there will be no shortage of chicken and eggs for the Christmas season.
He made the announcement yesterday at a press conference at the ministry’s boardroom on South Road, Georgetown.
At the meeting was President of the Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA) Patrick De Groot, Andrew King of Toucan Poultry, David Fernandes and Saeed Edun of Edun’s Poultry Farm.
Prashad said that there have been some enquiries about the availability of chicken for the Christmas season and they are aware that earlier in the year there were shortfalls which lead to a brief shortage of chicken in the country.
He added that chicken was in insufficient quantities and prices had skyrocketed to close to $400 per pound; but yesterday assured Guyanese that this Christmas there will be no shortage of chickens and eggs.
The Minister said, “This is a result of careful monitoring and planning with the GPPA.
Prashad explained that government has a policy of not allowing importation of chicken and eggs during the festive season, as the local producers are able to meet the demand.
He disclosed too that Guyana is now self-sufficient in eggs and chicken.
Prashad said, “We have more than an adequate supply, and chicken prices will remain stable between $280 and $320; per pound and in fact there might be a possibility of it dropping a little as there would be a flood of chickens for this Christmas.”
As for eggs, he observed that usually prices tend to go up a little in the week before Christmas, and he urged members of the public to make their purchase of eggs early.
Prashad added that in fact there will be no shortage of any food stuff for the festive season.
The GPPA President, Peter De Groot, said, “Based on what we have seen for the holidays, there has been about 20% to 30% increase in demand for and about 1.3M pounds of chicken will be consumed for the season, at least for the last two weeks for the holiday period.
Saeed Edun noted that egg prices remain at $800 per tray, and presently eggs are retailed at $100 to $120 for four.