PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad--Chicken prices are rising in Trinidad and Tobago and local retailers are warning that until Government intervenes they will continue to rise.
President of Pluck Shop Association Rasheed Karim says consumers have been paying more for live chicken over the last two months. The reason? Because a shortage of foreign exchange has led large poultry producing companies to hike their prices.
Currently consumers are paying between TT $ 5.50 to TT $ 6.50 for live chicken in Trinidad and as much as TT $ 8 per pound in Tobago.
Karim is urging the Government to intervene and suggests that the only way to lower prices is to provide incentives to get more small poultry farmers back into production.
“I am calling on the Government to create some kind of subsidy [for – Ed.] the poultry market, to encourage the small farmers to come back … It can reduce the price so that customers won’t have to pay more.”
Karim expressed concern that there has been a drop in sales since the increase.
He also appealed to authorities to remove the Value Added Tax (VAT) on machinery for processing chicken.
He said this would help to drive down the price of the poultry. ~ Caribbean360 ~
