No shortage of chicken, just high demand, says Caribbean Broilers

One of Jamaica's largest chicken producers, Caribbean Broilers, says there is no shortage in the market at this time although there is an unusually high demand for chicken.

Yesterday, one Kingston wholesaler called The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre complaining that there appears to be a chicken shortage in the Corporate Area as deliveries are below the amounts ordered.

However, Dr Keith Amiel, the corporate affairs manager at Caribbean Broilers Group, says there is no shortage as there is currently at least two pounds of chicken for every Jamaican

Dr Amiel said, however, that in order to ensure a balance in the market, businesses will not necessarily get all of their orders.

Meanwhile, Dr Amiel says the usually higher demand for chicken may be because it is cheaper than other proteins such a goat meat.

According to the Caribbean Broilers Executive, a survey conducted six weeks ago showed that chicken represents 88 per cent of the meat being consumed.

He says the government survey shows that there is between 2.5 million and 2.7 million kilograms of chicken meat in supply this week.