GUYANESE countrywide have been assured that there will be no shortage of chicken and eggs on the market during the Christmas season.
Local producers have increased their production to ensure that there is an adequate supply of both, well into the New Year, at affordable prices.
Member of the Guyana Poultry Producers Association (GPPA), Mr. David Fernandes gave the assurance during an interview with the Guyana Chronicle last week, when he sought to assuage the concerns of consumers, as the holidays approach.
About two months ago, there was not enough chicken on sale locally and that caused the prices to increase and sent consumers into a frenzy. During that time, the GPPA continually pledged that every effort was being made to stabilise the availability and cost by the onset of Christmas-time.
In October, the prices rose from $325 to $450 per pound, as compared to the previous $300 for chicken and the cost of eggs went from between $600 and $700 to between $900 and $1,100 per tray.
As part of the efforts to alleviate the situation, former Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad granted small business licences to import chicken, with the understanding that this would only continue until the supply stabilised locally.

In this regard, Fernandes emphasised that local farmers now have the capacity to sustain the market and expressed the hope that, with the availability of the commodity in sufficient quantities, the importation would be stopped.
“The local farmers are looking forward to this,” he said.
At the beginning of the shortage, Fernandes had explained that the situation was due to a glut experienced on the local market, or an oversupply of chicken earlier this year. Consequently, there was a drop in output and prices went up.

With this period over, consumers are now able to access chicken from between $320 and $350 per pound and between $600 and $900 for a tray of eggs.

As it relates to the price of eggs, a representative of Edun’s Poultry Farm, the country’s largest producer, said there will be a sufficiency for Christmas at all of their outlets.