In order to cushion the effect of the rise in the price for chicken locally, the Commerce Ministry has granted approval to 12 persons to import chicken.
The ministry, in a press release, stated that acting Minister Irfaan Ali had approved the importation of one million pounds of chicken.
The release added that the approval is only for a three-month period in an effort to combat the scarcity of the commodity.
This decision was made in response to the increase in the price for chicken and was also arrived at taking the interests of local chicken producers into consideration.
“As a consequence, the importers were granted a fifty percent waiver on duty instead of the sixty percent they requested by way of applications for permission to import eight million pounds, over the next six months,” the release said.
The licences of the 12 importers will expire on September 12. The expiry date was set to prevent hoarding of permits by persons who might want to capitalize on future unpredictability of the market.
“The effect of this decision will be regularly reviewed by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce to ensure consumers can obtain the commodity in adequate supply and at affordable prices,” the release said.
Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon, at his weekly post-cabinet press briefing, said Cabinet was advised about the surge in prices of poultry, attributed to a significant shortfall in availability in the local retail sector.
“Inter regional shifts, cabinet was advised, had a lot to do with that shortfall,” he said. “The poultry meat was following so many Guyanese into the hinterland regions so that shift was noted as the main reason for the reduction in the availability on the coast and that led to price increases.”
He added that Cabinet had agreed to resort to imports and agreed for immediate licensing of importers.
Stabroek News was informed that the prices for baby chicks and poultry rearing supplies have all skyrocketed resulting in the increase in the prices for the commodity as well as the shortage.
A poultry farmer, who requested anonymity, told this newspaper that the price for baby chicks increased from $100 to $140.
He added that a bag of Broiler Starter which cost $5,500 now retails for $6,500 and at some places a whopping $7,000. A bag of Broiler Grower that is normally retailed for $6,000 now costs $8,000.
He said customers were mostly unwilling to pay ‘outrageous’ sums for the item.
The price for plucked chicken now ranges from $300 to $500 per pound and live chicken ranges from $260 to $340 per pound.
