The Government has moved to shore up the country’s chicken supply, arranging the weekly importation of 330,000 pounds of poultry as a temporary measure to stabilise prices and protect consumers amid tightening domestic production.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, addressing representatives of the Private Sector Commission (PSC) on Monday, described the move as a carefully managed intervention meant to complement local output while supply gaps are addressed, and said Government would continue closely monitoring production and market demand to respond in a timely manner.
The New Guyana Marketing Corporation (New GMC) is facilitating the importation process, with the chicken to be distributed through local distributors and suppliers across the country. Minister Mustapha said the arrangement would remain under oversight to ensure it achieves its intended purpose without disrupting market stability.
Turning to the industry’s long-term development, he said Government plans to expand storage and cold-storage capacity within the sector, which would give producers greater flexibility to manage supply—storing poultry during periods of high production and releasing it when demand rises, creating more predictability for both producers and consumers.
“The objective is to ensure that there is a reliable supply of chicken for consumers while creating the conditions for our local poultry industry to continue expanding and becoming more resilient,” Minister Mustapha said, adding that Government would keep working with producers, importers, distributors and other private-sector stakeholders to monitor the market.
The engagement with the PSC forms part of Government’s ongoing consultations with the private sector to strengthen Guyana’s agricultural value chains and ensure food security.
