Chicken processing plant a viable option for Gov’t
In fact the hosts of the show, which was broadcast on November 17, 2011, lamented that Government has not already seen the wisdom in investing in the plant, which has been in existence since 2005.
Mr. Cromwell Smith noted that the Territory imports around 8 million dollars’ worth of chicken a year and that any intelligent government would have seen the wisdom in keeping at least half of the money in the Territory as it would have a major impact on the economy. He further said a plant that has the capacity to process some 4000 chickens in eight hours would mean employment for persons. Furthermore, he said that business would be created as there would be the need for several hundred chicken coops to adequately feed the processor. Other possible businesses highlighted were the selling of chicken feeds and manure, selling of eggs and its distribution, transportation, packaging and marketing.
The topic came up for discussion after a caller to the show said Mr. Khoy Smith produces some of the best chickens in the Territory but for months now he (caller) has not been able to get any.
Mr. Khoy Smith, who is the President of Farmers on the Move, explained that the entity was looking to work along with government for assistance for farmers to start up their chicken coop business. “I am hoping that with this new administration the support would be there so that we can take production to the next level.”
Mr. Smith also explained that the Farmers on the Move’s idea for the processing plant was for it to be a pilot project to sensitize people about the potential in the agriculture sector that could be capitalized on. “If government would have grabbed it and run with it in 2005 we would have seen perhaps by now where it would have turned over to an industry by itself that would have been able to not just feed the nation but export to St. Thomas as well.”
Mr. Wheatley then noted that one of the areas where they know money is quickly leaving the economy is through the importation of food and that if the Territory was able to adequately supply itself with its own chickens rather than importing, it would keep money circulating in the economy. He lamented that Government for the past six or seven years had not seen the existing chicken processing plant as an opportunity to invest in.
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