By Chantalé Fletcher
MINISTER of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Clarence Rambharat says there is no shortage of chickens in Trinidad and Tobago.
This was revealed in a release by his ministry on Wednesday after Opposition MP Ravi Ratiram claimed that there will be an increase in chicken prices this Christmas.
Rambharat said, “Our local chicken processors have advised the ministry that they continue to meet the ongoing demand for chicken, heading into the peak Christmas and end of year periods.
“With the decision to extend the Food Box Programme for an additional three months from October to December 2021 and the demand for local chicken with the re-opening of bars and food businesses.”
He added the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) was be able to acquire chickens on credit terms on certain days and in specific quantities. On that basis, chicken was included with the food boxes when chicken is available to NAMDEVCO.
However, Rambharat said some MPs during the October\November period requested that no chicken be included with the food boxes because their constituents were observing the traditional fasting period.
He stated that the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Agriculture were in collaboration to fund the current liabilities to local chicken processors and farmers as approved by Cabinet, before the completion of the Food Box Programme on December 22.
Ratiram has Zero Knowledge
On Wednesday, Minister Clarence Rambharat told AZP News.com via WhatsApp that poultry farming was mainly a private arrangement between the poultry processors and the private farmers.
Rambharat said, “MP Ratiram has zero knowledge of the sector. The State has a regulatory function and works closely with the processors and was not involved in price-fixing.”
