CHICKEN PRICES TO GO DOWN

Poultry producers have given their commitment that there will be no further increases in the price of chicken on both the live and processed markets and that the present price will soon decline.  These assurances came out of a meeting held on Saturday (July 12) between Minister of Consumer Affairs, Camille Robinson-Regis, Minister of Agriculture, John Rahael and members of the Poultry Association of TT, the WGM Group of Companies, Arawak and Company, Supermix Limited and Mastermix TT Limited. At the meeting the parties held discussions on present developments in the Poultry Industry which have led to increases in the price of live chicken by 61.3 percent and processed parts by 63 percent from January to July 12, 2003. Talks were also held on measures being undertaken by the industry to reduce the impact on the consuming public.

After the two-hour long meeting, which was held at the Ministry of Agriculture, poultry producers also promised that the industry would be looking for ways to improve efficiency and as a result lower its production costs. It was also revealed that collaboration with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs would continue to ensure that “consumers’ interests are safeguarded.” Additionally, members of the poultry industry apologised to the Government for the recent advertisements which were published in the daily newspapers, blaming Government for the increase in prices. Nutrimix Feeds Limited, which was responsible for placing the advertisements, did not attend the meeting. Attempts to reach a representative of Nutrimix proved futile.