The socio-economic impact study, conducted by Ernst & Young on behalf of the CPA, was said to be the first of its kind in the region, and was based solely on information from registered farmers.

“The poultry industry has a far-reaching impact on Jamaica’s economy. We’ve estimated the total economic contribution of J$310 billion and a capacity to meet 88 per cent of local demand. The sector plays a pivotal role in Jamaica’s GDP, employment, agro-industrial development, and food and nutrition security,”

said Managing Partner for Caribbean Strategy and Transactions at EY Barbados, Christopher Sambrano.

The estimate of poultry’s value is a sizeable one, compared to the total economy which is estimated at $3 trillion at market value.

In his presentation of the study’s findings this week at the Caribbean Poultry Association’s eighth symposium in New Kingston, Sambrano said the poultry industry in Jamaica impacts 300,000 jobs and generates $3.6 billion in taxes.

“The income generated by those directly involved in the industry further circulates in local communities, fostering additional business activities, supporting the broader economy, and empowering women-led households,” said Sambrano. “A significant portion of poultry farmers are women,” he added.

The Caribbean Poultry Association was founded in Jamaica 25 years ago and the symposium, now in its eighth staging, brought together more than 200 delegates from the Caribbean, the United States and other countries.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, speaking at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, noted that the poultry sector was central to regional agriculture, food security and employment.

“With annual production surpassing over 300,000 tonnes, the poultry industry provides over 80 per cent of the animal protein consumed in Caricom and plays a key role in our agriculture and economic sectors,” he said.

Jamaica accounts for nearly half of the region’s poultry output. The sector is dominated by two major players, Jamaica Broilers Group and Caribbean Broilers, which came together to host the conference. In Jamaica, small producers supply approximately 40 per cent of the chicken meat.

The poultry association has set a goal of increasing broiler meat production by 200 million kilogrammes, or 200,000 tonnes by 2045, a target the prime minister described as “bold but achievable”.

Regional production grew by 3.3 per cent last year. If the 20-year target is met, the region would be producing about 500,000 tonnes of broiler meat by 2045.

The association’s growth ambition aligns with the Caricom bloc’s efforts to enhance food security and reduce reliance on imports to feed Caribbean nationals. The bloc aims to reduce food imports by 25 per cent by 2030.

“The association has played a key role in shaping policies on trade, food safety, and agricultural health standards. Today, the CPA’s mandate remains as critical as ever. It is focused on achieving regional self-sufficiency in meat and egg production, replacing extra-regional imports with local output, and supporting the expansion of value-added products,”

CPA President Hamant Mahabir said at the symposium.

Holness, meanwhile, has urged poultry interests to partner with HEART/NSTA Trust to develop a structured apprenticeship programme to nurture the next generation of poultry farm managers, with the aim of sustaining the sector’s progress.

The training programme could be an opportunity to integrate the use of artificial intelligence into the poultry industry to increase yields, for crop surveillance, disease control and mitigation against weather events, the PM said.

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Source: Jamaica’s poultry sector valued at $310b in new study | Business | Jamaica Gleaner

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