THE EDITOR, Sir:
ONE VIEWS with dismay the response from the Minister of Agriculture concerning the impending reduction of tariffs on chicken imports which I view as a counterproductive measure and can only result in the decimation of the local poultry industry, thus adding poultry to the growing 'garbage heap' of local agricultural discards.
The assessment by Mr. Clarke can only be seen as lacking in empirical data as to why the cost of chicken meat has risen in the last 15 months so dramatically. Feed which is a major component in poultry production is not controlled by the local market therefore shortages of corn and soya on the international market have resulted in massive increases in prices which have impacted significantly on the cost of production.
To state that chicken prices are impacting on the cost of living index is being disingenuous, to say the least, and leaves the impression that local producers of chicken are to be blamed for this increase, and could possibly be engaged in unfair manipulation of the pricing.
Mr. Clarke should understand that no country can survive without ensuring its own food security. Can we depend on imports only?
The recent mad cow disease scare has shown our vulnerability to shocks when we are solely dependent on foreign inputs, after our local beef farmers have been driven out of business.
The Minister needs to steer clear of playing politics and carefully analyse the massive increases in inputs over the past 15 months as at present one 25 kg of chicken feed goes for $550, and not only focus on the price of the final product. I am sure Mr. Clarke is being hounded by distributors and hoteliers and being fed horror stories of the crisis presently taking place. However, there comes a time when the selfish wishes of a few cannot be made to succeed to the detriment of the weak.
I am, etc.,
ANDREW SINCLAIR
Engineering Unit N.E.R.H.A
