IICA contributes over 7,000 chicks for distribution in SVG

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has contributed over 7,000 baby chicks to support the Hurricane Beryl relief efforts and help offset the impact of rising global food prices.

This initiative aims to provide vital assistance to families, students, small scale farmers, schools, and households across St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), IICA states in a release.

The first batch of broiler chickens, totalling 3,500, was distributed on Friday, January 24, 2025, at the Ministry of Agriculture and forms part of the National Home and Community Food Security Project, spearheaded by the Zero Hunger Trust Fund (ZHTF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Farmers Support Company.

An additional 4,000 layer chickens will be distributed in the coming week.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, IICA Country Representative, Michael Dalton said “After the recent hurricane, IICA leveraged our relationships across Latin America and South America to provide support for St Vincent and the Grenadines in various areas”.

He encouraged home gardeners and farmers to maximize the use of this support to ensure that the chickens reach maturity and contribute to the country’s food security goals.

Chief Executive Officer of the ZHTF, Safiya Horne-Bique, expressed gratitude for IICA’s generous donation. She emphasized the importance of the contribution to the national food security drive, highlighting its role in ensuring access to nutritious food and fostering personal resilience. Horne-Bique reaffirmed the commitment of ZHTF to supporting individuals and families in achieving food security.

Recipients of the chickens welcomed the initiative, acknowledging it as a meaningful step toward providing families with a sustainable and healthy source of nutrition.