Poultry production to become major revenue earner for Anegada?
Minister of Agriculture Dr Natalio Wheatley is projecting that poultry production will become a major source of revenue for Anegada’s economy in the near future.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for a poultry facility in Anegada recently, Dr Wheatley said there should not be any reason for the Virgin Islands to import poultry.
He said all it takes to increase production is the will, the finances, making the land available, and then Anegada would be able to supply the entire Virgin Islands with poultry and its by-products.
“There is no reason why we can’t do it. I have to check the statistics, but poultry has to be at least a $15 to $20 million business here in the Virgin Islands. I am sure some of the millionaires we have from the poultry business can come from here in Anegada. Why not? We are making millionaires out of other people in the world. Look at the prices in the supermarket on how expensive they are? Food makes money,” the Agriculture Minister stated.
Dr Wheatley said whenever people go to the supermarket, they can see the price of the food, and this should highlight the fact that food makes money. He noted that farmers are also making money by selling produce to supermarkets and supermarkets also make money reselling.
“So, why don’t you sell to the supermarket? You make the money. I want the young people to be familiar with poultry because we want our children and our grandchildren to do it. We want to make them exposed to it,” Dr. Wheatley said.
“We can supply the whole of the Virgin Islands in food and export to the USVI and other places. We have to be able to sustain Anegada year-round, have a stable economy year-round and when the tourist come sell them Anegada food,” the minister continued.
He said this is the current vision for agriculture and the government must invest. The minister said the money for the investment will come from the fund created from the seven per cent tax placed on money transfer transactions going out of the territory.
Dr Wheatley further said the more people send money out of the territory, the more the fund grows and they will be able to utilise it to assist farmers and fisherfolks.
Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Fisheries Minister said his ministry has been focusing on the sister islands for this year’s Farmers’ and Fishers’ Week.
“This year we started off in Jost Van Dyke, then we went to Virgin Gorda and now we are here in Anegada. Our sister islands are a big part of our agriculture and fisheries vision. We know Anegada run fishing, but we have so much potential here in agriculture,” Dr Wheatley said.
“You have the land, the space to be able to make agriculture a real driver of your economy and its time to take it to the next level. I’m so glad I could work with Honourable Vincent Wheatley because we have to be bold,” the minister added.
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How many acres of corn are they going to grow to feed the chickens.
Chickens eat a variety of things, including cereals and fish and the innards of former chickens. Raising them economically and competitively is a highly skilled and competitive business. They would have to live in air conditioned sheds here as otherwise it would be too hot. The cost of that alone would make them uncompetitive.
Free range is a possibility. But they are at premium prices.
I doubt they have thought any of this out before making wild statements.
Yup. All valid points.
But that’s a good place for them as the farms smell to high heaven.
everything will be imported
Seriously, sometimes I can’t believe how childish these supposedly intelligent people are. It’s as if they think the world is a playground and all they have to do is make a wish and things will happen. Just think of how stupid it is to think that raising chickens on one of the most remote islands in The Caribbean and trying to sell their products for a profit.
My 5 year old could work that out.
Good Question ) because if they are going to be fed on the imported fowl feed that is full of( GMO ), then the FOWLS would the same as those imported chickens which is affecting people, children and
Adults developing breasts both male and female girls and boys
And not only that, but also children are bewitched into practicing sorcery and speak in tongues. My friends nephews mothers brothers dad told me that he knew of someone who ate that kind of yard bird and he grew warts on his eyelids. They then covered his head and horns came out like branches. Today, he rams his head into everything like a goat.
Is he in the government?
I’ve got news for you. Girls grow breasts whether they eat chickens or not.
Isn’t Anegada an atoll? Poor soil conditions and water availability are challenges for these economic activities. To improve these will cost a lot of $$$. And that will make production more expensive and uncompetitive. South Pacific Islands have this problem.
there are people on Anegada that cannot give their eggs away there is that much, now they build one right next to the school, the smell will be unbearable all so they can teach a new subject no one wants to do except a select few who would gain the knowledge directly from their seniors another waste of money and time.
What about the waste they produce. Can’t ruin prestige land/water quality.
What about the waste they produce. How to deal with that and keep environment clean especially since a lot of money is tourism!!!
LARGE SCALE POULTRY FARMS ARE A DIRTY BUSINESS. THEY POLUTE A LOT AND SMELL CAN AFFECT AREAS OF MANY MILES.WHAT ARE TEY GOING TO DO WITH THE HIGHLY SMELLY MANURE. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SPREAD OVER HUNDREDS OF ACRES. HAS A STUDY BEEN MADE TO SHOW THE IMPORT COST OF CHICKS,FEED,MEDICINE .WHAT ABOUT COST OF RUNNING A/C FOR THE BUILDINGS AND THE INCREASE IN DESALINATION SYSTEM
I BET MORE. OST EFFECTIVE TO IMPORT FROZEN CHICKEN
CONSENTRATE ON WHAT WE ARE GOOD AT TOURISM.
Funny how we have all these chickens running around from colonial days, in breeding and adapting to our climate over generations…
which the politicians proposed to poison out as an eye sore. Now we’ve got people saying chicken cant be raised without AC?
Local chickens are still alive and pecking. Mother hens with chics to defend still chasing children. What survives in neglect would thrive with care.
We used to throw out a little scraps for the chickens to be accustomed to humans then throw out a string to catch them, get grandpa to wring the neck, plucked and in the pot or freezer.
Now a days we are programmed to believe the chickens from abroad are healthy while these FREE- free range chickens are dirty.
Be a steady source of work for HOA members when they get out of office. Most of them pretty good at choking the chicken everyday