Trinidad and Tobago concerned over poultry imports

The meeting took place virtually between the country’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Paula Gopee-Scoon, and the Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Senator Clarence Rambharat, together with executives of the Poultry Association of Trinidad and Tobago (PATT), reports the Trinidad Express. On the agenda were matters relevant to the growth, sustainability, and fair treatment of the poultry industry. Specific areas of concerns to the PATT were imports of foreign chicken.

The PATT is a key stakeholder in the food industry as it represents all 4 major chicken producers in Trinidad and Tobago and is also affiliated with the Table Egg (Layers) Association, which includes another 30 producers.

The combined efforts of these producers have resulted in the growth of the industry. It is reported that, according to the PATT, an average of 42 million chickens are produced locally on an annual basis, and that about 1 million chickens are consumed in Trinidad and Tobago on a weekly basis. This means that 8 out of every 10 chickens consumed in Trinidad and Tobago are sourced locally, although the country remains a net importer of poultry products.

The average annual imports of poultry and poultry products from 2016 to 2020 was valued at TT$112 million (US16.48 million); while exports remain at a modest average of TT$3.5 million (US$515,000) for that same period.