Last Updated on November 4, 2024, 6:21 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Basseterre, St Kitts: St Kitts and Nevis Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan IDFC) has officially commissioned a new state-of-the-art Layer Chicken Breeder Farm and Hatchery facility.
The newly commissioned facility has been opened at the Bayford’s Livestock Centre of Excellence on October 31, 2024, marking a significant step towards enhancing food security and advancing the poultry sector in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Significantly, the hatchery was constructed under the Layer Chicken Industry Sustainable Development Project which is a collaboration between the Taiwan IDFC and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Marine Resources.
Minister of Agriculture, Samal Duggins took his official Facebook account to announce the official commissioning of the Hatchery. While sharing the glimpses from the official commissioning ceremony, he noted that this ambitious project is made possible through the generous support and partnership of Taiwan and the government of St Kitts and Nevis.
The new project is expected to provide farmers with a secure supply of over twenty-thousand-day-old chicks per year for both meat and egg production and forms part of the government’s 25 by 25 Agenda which aims to reduce food imports by 25% by the year 2025.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Republic of China (Taiwan), Lin Chia-Lung gave remarks on the opening ceremony and expressed how pleased he is with the government’s efforts to establish a sustainable and self-sufficient agricultural sector.
In his remarks, he also stated that the farm will provide a stable and reliable supply of eggs and poultries that will benefit local consumers and protect supply chain security. By promising food security and sustainable agriculture, the project also contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development goals.
Agriculture Minister Duggins also extended deepest gratitude to the partners from Taiwan for their enduring friendship and commitment to help build a self-reliant agricultural sector.
At the end of the ceremony, the guests were given a guided tour of the facility equipped with three Chicken Houses with deep-litter systems and a battery cage system. Also, one Hatching Room with four incubators, one Egg Room for storage, water tanks and a Generator Room for an independent power supply.
Minister Samal Duggins also acknowledged local farmers for braving the challenges faced in the poultry industry and thanked them for their input which helped with the build-out of the Sustainable Layer Chicken Hatchery project.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
