Project yields 6,615 pounds of chicken

In less than two months, the Diamond Trust poultry project will be paying out another $15,000 to farmers in the South Central Windward constituency.{{more}}

This comes after a slaughter last week that yielded 6,615 pounds of chicken.

The last major payment of this amount was made on October 2.

Farmers are expected to receive their monies later this week, said area representative, Minister of Agriculture Saboto Caesar, who initiated the project.

There are 100 active poultry pens being operated by farmers of the constituency, who are a part of the project.

St Vincent and the Grenadines, on average, consumes over $25 million worth of poultry products annually and Caesar said reducing that figure is one of the project’s main objectives.

“This is a clear indication that we are on the right path in being able to supply not produce for our local market but also outside markets, with our own locally grown chicks,” Caesar told SEARCHLIGHT yesterday.

The project has as its objective to assist the Diamond Trust, a non-profit entity established for the purpose of developing and executing sustainable programmes for poverty alleviation, environmental protection, and providing rural employment in South Central Windward, through firstly a sustainable poultry project.

Boasting on the success of the project since initiation in July, Caesar said the idea started as a quiet whisper amongst five poultry farmers in Diamonds and has spread throughout South Central Windward.

“And [it] is now one of the most sung choruses in the constituency. It is touching lives and having a positive impact, not only to do with agriculture, but the income from the poultry. We are definitely already a positive impact on issues having to do with poverty alleviation,” he added.

In terms of the sale of any agricultural commodity, one of the greatest marks of success has to do with marketing, Caesar said.

“And the fact that we are now the exclusive sellers to Palm Island has definitely secured a market for us,” he stated.

Another significant aspect of progress outlined is that several private sector entities are now willing to partner with the project to assist with storage, transportation and marketing.

Funding for the project was obtained from several organizations, locally and internationally.

The Grenadines Partnership Fund facilitated the start-up of the project. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost US$51,000.

“We had a visit from the Grenadines Partnership Fund and they are very pleased with the progress that we’ve made thus far,” Caesar said.

There are some issues, however, regarding the project, that need to be addressed including additional funding, he further stated.

“There are 100 persons involved in the project and there is a list of over 180 applicants who have applied to get on board with the project.

“We intend to seek financing from different organizations and institutions in order for those pending persons to get those persons on during the year of 2013,” he explained.

At the end of 2013,

the goal is to have 300 active poultry farmers engaged in the project, Caesar told SEARCHLIGHT. (AA)