Trading firm offers to buy local broilers

Trading firm offers to buy local broilers - 17.02.2012 ● But farmers not happy with conditions set Local registered broiler farmers have received a new offer from the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) which has agreed to buy their chicken. Broilers are chickens raised specifically for meat production. These farmers met recently at the Secti Building Roche Caiman to discuss the terms and conditions of the offer which had already been outlined by the STC. The meeting was led by the Seychelles Farmers Association’s (Seyfa) chairman Serge Benstrong and treasurer David Marie. Among the conditions set by the STC are that farmers should sell their broilers to them at R36.50 per kilo and that the average size of the chicken should be between 1.2 and 1.3 kg per bird for each delivered lot. And 70 tonnes is required to be delivered during three months from March to May this year to their meat division at  Huteau Lane. All whole broilers have to be cleaned and well frozen, packed in plain or branded polybags, sealed with clips. Farmers vented out their frustration about the offer which they said was not discussed but rather imposed on them. They added that a representative from the company as well as the Seychelles Agricultural Agency should have been present for the meeting. In a document sent to the press, Seyfa stated its position and that of farmers on this proposal. It reads that in his national budget address last year Vice-President Danny Faure said “the STC will set up a system to allow farmers to sell their products to the company at a published price which is revised every quarter”. He said the STC will also reduce the quantity of chicken imported and this measure is necessary to promote local agricultural production. Seyfa stated that since the beginning of the year it is understood that a number of meetings took place to discuss the issue, but farmers and the association had not been involved. “Farmers expressed concerns that the price does not consider the cost of production, which has substantially increased recently.” They added that the proposed standards and presentation of the chickens will also bring additional costs to those of production. The broiler farmers felt that the proposal needs to be negotiated seriously with all parties concerned.

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