The company which also has the franchise for Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut will also be exporting its products to Caribbean countries, particularly those which have the franchise as well, Managing Director, Mr. Deonarine Singh said yesterday.

DIDCO’s Integrated Poultry Project, includes the hatchery, feed mill, farm and poultry processing plant. The entire project represents an investment of US$16.8 million. The feed mill which has a capacity of 35 tonnes of poultry feed per hour was opened in September 2001.

Later, in May this year the poultry farm was opened. The farm has 20 fully tunneled ventilated houses where the chickens are being reared with the latest technology in the poultry industry.

The hatchery consists of top- of- the -line technologically advanced system with the capacity to hatch 225,000 chickens per week.

In the current phase of the company's operations there are eight hatchers and eight setters. In February next year the company would be installing four additional hatchers and setters to boost its production output to some 350,000 baby chickens per week.

Singh said the project was established on such a large scale, not only for its viability but for the improvement of the welfare of the people of Guyana- the producers and consumers of poultry.

According to him, the hatchery is not only producing chickens for DIDCO farms but also produces low cost chickens for the company's many contract farmers.

He emphasised that the scale of operations is not meant to dislocate any farmer, but to make them more efficient. "Cost effective production not only translates in profitability, but also low prices to consumers", Singh said.

He said since DIDCO started to produce the brand "Country Fresh" poultry meat, consumers have been able to purchase the high quality meat at affordable prices.

During a media tour of the hatchery earlier yesterday Singh said the company will be selling chicken at $75 per pound.

He said that investing in developing countries like Guyana, there are always impediments of one form or another because of an inherent lack of required distribution and regulatory mechanism to ensure the viability of investment.

Minister of Fisheries Crops and Livestock Mr. Satyadeow Sawh in his remarks at the opening ceremony said the poultry industry has always formed a significant component of Guyana's livestock sub-sector.

He said the industry is of strategic importance to the nation's food security and provides an important source of income and employment for a number of low-income families.

He explained that on average, Guyanese consume about 22.33 kg of poultry meat per capita and is the preferred source of animal protein in Guyana.

According to him, over the past decade this industry has shown significant strides. "Indeed it has emerged as one of the prominent economic success stories in Guyana".

Sawh said production increased from 3,090 tonnes in 1992 to a projected figure of 19,713 tonnes for 2002, reflecting an increase of 538 percent. Investments in the sector have climbed from US$30 million in the year 2000 to the present figure of US$50 million.

He noted the trend is attributed to renewed investment and entrepreneurial drive in the industry and supported by policy environment, which catered for modifications.

Many farmers have invested in state- of- the-art equipment and our production system now resembles some of those seen in Trinidad, Jamaica and the US, where large operators contract their rearing to small farmers.

Sawh, commenting on the market demands said Guyana's cost of production for broilers are among some of the lowest in the Caribbean.

This, he said, has been partially due to the relatively low cost of feed inputs (by-products) from the rice industry. This suggests that there exists a competitive edge for export to regional markets, the Minister explained.

"The industry is responding more and more to consumer demand for 'convenience foods' by offering pre-cut and tray packed products".

The Minister, however, said the industry recognises the challenges ahead as it moves forward. He noted that several producers are depending on the CARICOM market for export and in this context several initiatives are underway.

He noted that these will include the increase per-capita consumption of poultry, which will be achieved primarily by growing consumer preference, the establishment of more fast food outlets and the growing trend towards health foods.

Sawh also pointed out that the development of "convenience products"- Consumer preference is demanding that more "ready to eat products" be supplied for example, the supplying of pre- seasoned and partially cooked meats.