Following on the outcomes of the recently concluded 115th Special Meeting of the Council of Trade and Economic Development (COTED) – Agriculture and the 44th Meeting of the Board of Directors, the Caribbean Poultry Association (CPA) has reaffirmed its support and commitment to the CARICOM 25% by 2025 Reduction in the Regional Food Import Bill.
In 2025, the CPA will celebrate its 25th Anniversary. Over the years, the association has grown and now represents stakeholders from the largest agribusiness in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which includes small, medium, and vertically integrated producers. These stakeholders are involved in the production of grains, poultry meat, eggs and value-added products as well as finished feeds for poultry, swine, cattle, sheep and fish. The CPA’s extensive network includes, among others, input suppliers, transportation services, technical specialists, managers, and operational staff distributed across various countries.
The poultry sector accounts for just over 80% of the total animal protein in the diets of CARICOM peoples. There has been notable growth in broiler meat production in Guyana, Belize, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The Region is 75% self-sufficient in broiler meat and approaching self-sufficiency in table eggs.
With the products of nine processing plants in Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago approved by the COTED for entry into Member States and with that body’s further agreement that Member States would work towards the adoption of the CRS28:2012, CARICOM REGIONAL STANDARD- Specification for Poultry and Poultry Products, the CPA is positioning itself to increase production not only in grain, broiler meat and eggs, but also in value-added products and to trade these products to satisfy growing regional demand.
In this regard, the CPA acknowledges and commends recent initiatives amongst its members which include:
- Barbados – leading the way to further reduce the low carbon footprint of chicken production with Rooftop solar on chicken houses. A new feed mill will soon be commissioned.
- Belize – having achieved self-sufficiency in broiler meat, table eggs, hatching eggs, corn, and soya, is positioning itself for exports of broiler meats.
- Guyana – harvested its first major crop of soya beans this year, displacing 12% of imported soya bean meal. The Government of Guyana is supporting the industry to develop breeding farms to meet its hatching egg requirements. Investments are underway in environmentally controlled housing for both egg and broiler production.
- Jamaica – initiating intra-regional trade in value-added poultry products and innovating to meet consumers evolving trends for flavours, convenience, eco-friendly brands, and products that promote personal well-being. Thirty percent of its hatching egg requirements are now met by local breeder farms.
- Suriname – placing high priority on utilising all available by-products in its feed formulations with significant use of rice, rice bran, fishmeal, and wheat middling.
- Trinidad and Tobago – maintaining a balanced industry with 60% of broiler meat produced by integrated operators and 40% small farmers. There have been major investments in hatcheries and environmentally controlled housing to support a market that consumes one million chickens a week.
Caribbean Poultry Association
October 25, 2024
