The Caribbean Poultry Association (CPA) has reaffirmed its commitment to expanding and diversifying the regional poultry industry as part of its long-term Strategic Plan to increase broiler meat production by 200,000 tonnes by 2045.
At its 46th Meeting on October 9, 2025, Chairman Hamant Mahabir and the Board of Directors reported a 3% growth in output for 2024 and projected a further 5% rise in 2025. Regional production is expected to reach 340,000 tonnes, meeting about 80% of CARICOM’s poultry consumption.
The CPA credited these gains with strengthening all sectors of the industry — from broiler and breeder operations to feed, egg, and value-added product manufacturers — and supporting the Region’s Food and Nutrition Security agenda.
The Board commended the success of the CPA’s Eighth International Technical Symposium and Exhibition, held in Jamaica from May 13–15, 2025, which attracted over 200 regional and international delegates. Attendees praised the event’s technical presentations on poultry innovations.
At the Symposium, Ernst & Young Services Limited presented findings from the first-ever Socio-Economic Impact Study of Jamaica’s Poultry Industry, commissioned by the CPA. The report revealed that the sector supports approximately 392,000 livelihoods, contributes J$62.6 billion in wages, and generates a total economic impact of J$300 billion. Poultry represents 85% of Jamaica’s livestock output, with small and contract farmers accounting for 40% of production. Every 1% increase in broiler output was found to raise GDP per capita by 2.6%.
The Board also expressed appreciation for CARICOM Ministers of Agriculture, who endorsed similar studies in other Member States and supported the implementation of the CARICOM Regional Standard – Specification for Poultry and Poultry Products to ensure food safety across the retail market.
Highlighting regional achievements, the Board noted that Best-Dressed Chicken of Jamaica Broilers Group earned the Farmer of the Year award at the 2025 Caribbean Week of Agriculture in St. Kitts and Nevis, following last year’s win by fellow CPA member CB Group.
Despite challenges such as rising costs and import competition, the CPA remains focused on meeting production goals under the CARICOM 25 by 2025+5 Initiative.
The Association also recognized major member developments across the region, including:
- Barbados – commissioning of a new animal feed mill and expanded production capacity.
- Belize – new tunnel-ventilated breeder housing; full self-sufficiency in grain, broiler meat, and eggs.
- Guyana – expanded soybean cultivation meeting 30% of local feed needs; increased broiler and egg capacity.
- Jamaica – launch of a 12,000-birds-per-hour Air Chill plant; investments in renewable energy and exports.
- Suriname – adoption of advanced climate control technology for chick brooding.
- Trinidad and Tobago – construction of a new feed mill and additional tunnel-ventilated housing for 45,000 birds each.
Now celebrating its 25th year, the CPA continues to serve as a regional anchor in developing a world-class agro-industry that provides the Caribbean’s most affordable and widely consumed source of animal protein.
