There has been a shortage of chicken and eggs in recent weeks, but producers expect the situation to be back to normal by next month.
According to Guyana Poultry Producers Associa-tion (GPPA) Board Member David Fernandes, the recovery will start from this week because most of the producers have indicated that by mid-August they will be able to supply all of their regular customers with their needs.
“We can say that things will get back to normal because the eggs that will help the industry to recover had already been imported at least six to seven weeks ago and so those birds are already on the ground being produced,” Fernandes noted.
He further stated that every year there would be two shortages and three gluts but they are hoping that this year there will be just one shortage and maybe one glut and a period of normalcy after that.
“We can guarantee that from now, we will have enough chicken for Christmas…we feel quite sure that we will be able to cater to Guyana’s needs at the end of the year and at prices that are reasonable for the consumers,” Fernandes indicated.
Fernandes noted that under normal circumstances, local demand is between 800,000 to 900,000 pounds of chicken a week. Whenever there is a celebration like Mashramani or Christmas, that demand normally goes up by 25%, to about 1.2 million pounds of chicken a week.
He had told this newspaper last week that chicken provided by Bounty Farm has not risen in price since 2008, remaining at $358 per pound, while eggs are being sold at $468 per 12 pack.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud stated that the Ministry has since met with chicken producers and stakeholders to look at ways in which they can ensure that there is no significant fallout in terms of production, thereby putting pressure on prices.
“There have been some sharing and exchanging information from the Guyana Livestock Development Authority… when you look at data we have seen that, as projected, that subsequently or after the glut, there have been a drop in output and that would have seen prices going up,” Persaud explained.
“The stakeholders have assured that by September, there should be some level of normalisation in terms of production as well as some stabilisation in terms of price,” he said.
It was noted that some producers have been using that window that the glut provided to look at their facilities and expand. Some have reportedly brought in some new equipment and a new line.
“They have used this opportunity, as it were, to retool and to look at their investment and activities. Those have been completed and they expect that by September to have normalisation in chicken and egg production on the market,” Persaud said.
“We see the prices go up primarily in the Demerara area and although we need to do a little bit more work… we do anticipate that once there is sufficient supply on the market that it should be stabilised in this regard,” he added.
Based on the price data, Persaud stated, the average price for the end of July 2011 would have been $350 per pound.
In 2010, around that same time, it would have been $405 per pound while it would have been $301 per pound in 2009. The price of chicken in 2008 was $327 per pound.
He said that because chicken is such an important part of the diet of Guyanese, they have been looking at ways in which they can ensure that the producers ensure adequate supply and that they do not have to resort to any imports.
“For the last three or four years, we have not had cause to import or to encourage persons to import chicken and we do hope that the local producers do not in any way create such a situation, because at the end of the day, the local poultry industry is very important and we want them to be viable… We will continue to interact with stakeholders and continue to monitor the situation with hopes that whatever issues there were will be corrected,” Persaud said.
