Egg Pricing Consultations with Poultry Farmers Concludes by Brent Simon
A series of monthly consultations for the poultry farmers led by Dr. Chere Kellman/Veterinary Officer on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Antigua government was officially concluded on Thursday 28th November.
The last topic discussed focused on the egg pricing challenges. This discussion commenced in October and concluded in November which marked the end of this initiative aimed at fostering dialogue and identifying solutions for affordable and sustainable egg production in the country.
Initiated a few months ago, the consultations engaged local poultry farmers to understand the challenges they face and to craft strategies for addressing these issues. While attendance at the meetings were less than ideal, with many farmers unable to participate due to logistical and resource constraints, the discussions were described by Dr. Kellman as “somewhat fruitful.”
One attendee, Sheldon Gibson reflecting on the situation said that the farmers and the government are working together to solve the price crisis. He stated that. “We can see that the smaller farms are the ones with fewer birds are operating at minimal profits or complete losses. To some degree the larger farmers are not feeling the squeeze as much as the smaller farmers.” Issues with the cost and quality of the feeds are also causative factors. “We are looking for someone to produce or provide feed that is cost effective as well as high quality. If the feed is not of high quality the birds wont produce. It takes quite a few bags of feed per week to sustain a flock of birds. In addition to these issues, there is also the issue of theft of layers and, mortality rates. Both animals and humans sometimes enter the pens and cause massive losses. It really affects us. New chicks take a while to develop and the costs of raising them to production size is an investment without a return, which is strenuous both financially and mentally to the farmers.” Mr. Gibson said.
Dr. Kellman noted, “Although attendance was limited, the contributions from those who participated provided invaluable insights into the local egg industry. These consultations have highlighted the resilience of Antigua’s farmers and their willingness to adapt to change.”
Several critical issues were identified:
High Production Costs – The rising cost of imported feed and other inputs were consistently cited as a major barrier to profitability.
Market Competition – Imported eggs, often sold at lower prices, undermine the competitiveness of local producers.
Infrastructure Challenges – Many farmers lack the necessary infrastructure to scale up or improve production and efficiency.
Consumer Preferences – Growing demand for organic and free-range eggs presents opportunities but also requires higher investment.
Several actionable recommendations were made to include:
Feed Subsidies – Introducing government subsidies or partnerships to reduce the costs of imported feed.
Market Differentiation – Branding local eggs as premium products, emphasizing freshness, and promoting them as healthier alternative products.
Infrastructure Support – Offering grants or loans to farmers to assist them in the upgrading of equipment and expanding of operations.
Training Programs – Providing capacity building initiatives for farmers on cost management, marketing, and sustainable business practices.
Dr. Kellman is now tasked with the compiling the findings from the consultations into a comprehensive approach to be submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture. This report will form the foundation for the development of an egg pricing policy designated to balance the needs of farmers and consumers.
Dr. Kellman expressed optimism about the future of the Antigua egg industry. “These consultations have laid the groundwork for a collaborative approach to tackling the challenges our farmers face. The next step is ensuring that these recommendations are translated into actionable policies.
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Can we have more consultations on some crops that can be grown here, at least 5? Just like egg products, they should be minimal 5 crops that are grown all year round and restrict the importation.