Gov't to address pork glut issue

The government is today expected to address the issue of the pork glut which is threatening the viability of some local farmers.

The Opposition has accused the Government of contributing to the glut by granting permits for imported pork and pork products.

President of the Jamaica Pig Farmers’ Association Hanif Brown, says the Agriculture Ministry insists there has not been an increase in the granting of permits for imported pork products.

According to Brown, over the past four months local pork sales have been declining.

He says, for the first time ever, some 500,000 kilogrammes of pork is in storage.

Meanwhile, corporate affairs manager for the Caribbean Broilers Group Dr Keith Amiel says the company is also hurting from the oversupply of pork.

Caribbean Broilers supplies more than a quarter of the pork to the local market, under its Copperwood and Caribbean Passion brands.