THE broiler industry in Guyana has recovered, and there is now an adequate supply of chicken on the local market.
David Fernandes, representative of the Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA), made this announcement yesterday, during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, when he gave an update on the recent chicken shortage. He said, “I can say categorically that the supply of chicken is back to normal.”
According to Fernandes, the change in the situation, which had plagued consumers since August, is in keeping with the assurances made by the GPPA that by the end of September chicken supplies and prices should stabilize.
Meanwhile, a check at the city supermarkets and municipal markets revealed that chicken is available to consumers at an average cost of $380 per pound.
Fernandes noted too that chicken supply has also normalised in the rural areas, where consumers were also feeling the brunt of the shortage.
As for eggs, he explained that it may take a longer time for the availability and price of this commodity to stabilise; consumers are currently paying between $940 and $1000 for a tray of 30 eggs.
Fernandes explained that eggs will take a longer time to get back to normal, as a hen takes 26 weeks to start producing fully, and new layers have been put in.
Despite this, Mr. Fernandez assured that, come Christmas, chicken as well as eggs should be there to meet the demand.

Addressing the continued high prices at some outlets, he is urging consumers not to patronize those “unscrupulous vendors” who seek to take advantage of the situation.
In an effort to control the situation, the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce had issued more than 14 licenses to small importers to augment the shortage.