No shortage of eggs, chicken or pork

 

Despite the devastation left behind by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, Jamaicans can breathe a sigh of relief this Yuletide season, as officials in the poultry industry confirm there will be no shortage of chicken, pork or eggs.

 

Seven weeks after the monster storm battered the island, damaging farms and claiming thousands of birds, the poultry industry has shown remarkable resilience. 

 

In the immediate aftermath, concerns were raised about potential shortages and rising prices. 

 

Vice President of the Hi-Pro Division of the Jamaica Broilers Group (JBG), Colonel Jaimie Ogilvie says replacement stock has already been secured, allowing production levels to bounce back in time for the holiday rush, when demand for poultry products traditionally peaks. 

 

"There's going to be no shortage of chicken meat and pork for the Christmas because Jamaica's pig and chicken farmers are already rebounding on the back of Hurricane Melissa. Inventory on hand, current production schedules are going to ensure that demand is met over the holiday. 

 

"Just for some context, in the two weeks immediately following Melissa, Hi-Pro gave away over 360,000 baby chicks to farmers across the island. A lot of it went to central and eastern parishes, to farmers who had the capacity to make up for the loss in production that was experienced in the West. Those in the West who could take, we are able to provide some there, but this is just to show that we wanted to make sure that there is not going to be a shortfall in available chicken meat for the holidays," he highlighted.

 

Colonel Ogilvie said the self-sufficient table egg industry lost more than 450,000 layers, or half of its productive capacity, describing the impact as by far the most devastating blow to the sector. 

 

He noted that nearly 20% of the birds lost during the hurricane have already been replaced and returned to the market. 

 

Acknowledging the continued demand for birds, the Vice President said additional farmers have been contracted to help meet local needs. But he explained that while rebuilding of the domestic industry is ongoing, the importation of eggs has already begun to stabilise supply. 

 

"In the interim, while we rebuild the local sector, we can access table eggs in a safe way, in a sustainable way to fill the gap and to satisfy the demand created here. And because of the work by the VSD and the US Department of Agriculture, we are now on the cusp of seeing where those table eggs are going to be starting to come in. I believe the first shipment of table eggs is due to leave the US this Friday, minister. We are going to have eggs in the market before Christmas, and we have a steady train of table eggs coming in weekly," said Colonel Ogilvie.

 

He said the Egg Farmers Association will be distributing the imported eggs to its customers as part of efforts to rebuild their businesses.