Minister Rahael vows to fight any poultry cartel

AGRICULTURE Minister John Rahael on Tuesday vowed to resist the growth of any organised chicken cartel by local poultry producers. Rahael made the disclosure while touring the Marilissa sheep and goat farm, Scotts Trace, Penal. Rahael, who pointed out that Ministry officials were in “constant contact” with poultry producers since the price increases of last July, which saw the local food staple soar above the $4.70 per pound mark, said the increase was the work of “one or two chicken producers.” “We want to guarantee the citizens of this country that this Government will not allow a cartel to develop in any industry whatsoever, including the poultry industry,” Rahael said.

In an ominous warning, the Minister pointed out that Government had, as an option, the “flexibility” to reduce the various import duties on imported chicken. “Tariffs and surcharges on imported chicken is almost 88 percent, so Government has that flexibility to remove that surcharge and import duty altogether,” he said. However, Rahael said that this option was the “last thing we would want to do” as Government was actively encouraging producers to get into both the upstream and downstream aspect of poultry production. He identified the downstream markets of breeding farms and hatching eggs as two areas for “tremendous growth opportunities” for producers. Rahael was visibly impressed by the operations at Marilissa Farms which, over the past eight years had grown from two goats into a 5,000 sheep and goat operation. He also promised to negotiate with the Finance Ministry for the removal of the 100 percent import duties on tags used to monitor the growth of farm animals.