Malcolm

The National Consumers' League has decried the Government's decision to import chicken parts during the present Yuletide season. Steve Malcolm, president of the league, said local poultry industry players should be taken at their word when they claim they can meet the demand during the festive season.

He told The Gleaner yesterday that based on information that local growers of chicken were able to supply the local market during the festive season, the decision of the Ministry of Agriculture to allow for the importation of chicken was unnecessary.

"Why import when the dollar is in trouble?" said Malcolm. He described as implausible an argument advanced by Minister of Agriculture Dr Christopher Tufton who said that it became necessary to import chicken in order to protect the interests of consumers.

At present, a pound of chicken parts is being retailed for on average $125. A whole chicken is sold for on average $130 per pound.

"If industry players say they can supply local demand, then they would be able to sell at a reasonable price," said Malcolm.

Tufton projected that there would have been a two-million-kilogram shortfall during the Christmas season, inclu-ding more than 800,000 kilograms for the last quarter of 2008.

Earlier this week, the National Poultry Growers Co-operative Society said the ministry's decision could affect its financial gains. The poultry growers said the intervention could lead to a reduction in demand for all locally produced animal-protein products.

The society also said in a release that the importation could affect the business ventures of small chicken farmers who have neither the capacity for inventory storage nor the flexibility to do without regular earnings.

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