The Food and Agriculture Organisation is assisting regional governments to improve the productivity health and safety capacities of small-scale backyard poultry farmers in the Caribbean. The project forms part of the FAO's broader objective to improve the food security of the region.
Agriculture and Lands Minister, Roger Clarke, on Monday announced that Jamaica had received $6.7 million to assist in improving the productivity of about 60 small-scale poultry farmers. The programme of assistance comes under a $25.4 million Backyard Farming Development Project for the Caribbean region.
"With backyard poultry and mixed farming being common denominators throughout the region, characterised by traditionally low productivity and income-earning potential, the project was designed to multiply production in backyard farming units in the respective territories," the Agriculture and Lands Minister explained.
He said the objective of the project would be achieved through increasing the efficiency and income-earning potential of backyard poultry operators; reduce pre-maturity losses; proper disease control methods and improving the safety and health conditions of poultry operations.
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Mr. Clarke said the sum will go towards training health inspectors, agricultural extension officers, home economics
teachers, community workers as well as for covering the cost of construction and the necessary inputs in rearing poultry. The project also provides for the construction of 'cutting-hedge'slaughtering and poultry housing facilities.
Albert Shand, executive director of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), said the project was necessary in light of new safety and health standard stipulations by international organisations and the advent of highly contagious diseases such as avian influenza. "It means that production techniques will have to change," he emphasised.
Dr. Dunstan Campbell, the FAO's country representative in Jamaica, said the project was currently being undertaken in Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. He said the four countries were being used as demonstration centres and the results replicated in other Caribbean islands if successful.
