Poultry Farmers in St. Ann Benefit from JBI Initiative

Senior Project Officer at Jamaica Bauxite Institute  (JBI), Wesley Harley (left) hands over baby chicks to  poultry farmer, Marcia Bygrave, during a recent handover exercise at the Port Rhoades Sports Club in St. Ann. (Photo by Serena Grant)

For St. Ann poultry farmer Marcia Bygrave collecting 50 broiler chicks at the Port Rhoades Sports Club recently was more than the start another rearing cycle; it was the beginning of a new chapter.

Ms. Bygrave said the support has given her renewed purpose and a realistic opportunity to earn an income.

“I am so elated. I used to raise chicken but, you know, I’m not working, so this is like you give me a start and it’s the first time I have gotten something from somebody. So, I’m so happy,” she told JIS News.

“This is a job now. It’s a big start that you give me,” she added, cradling the box containing her chicks.

Just a few feet away, fellow farmer Hugh Gordon, shared a similar sense of optimism.

Mr. Gordon, who operates a small poultry and jerk business, recalled the devastating impact Hurricane Melissa had on his livelihood last October, when dozens of his birds died.

“We’re glad to get another start again. When I have my own chicken, I make more money. But when I have to buy from the truck, I can’t make what I have,” he said, further expressing that for him, rebuilding his flock means rebuilding his business.

“I tell you, I appreciate it… . I’m thankful to JBI (Jamaica Bauxite Institute) and Nutramix very much,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Tamara Carty, described the initiative as timely assistance that will strengthen an enterprise she is building.

“I am so elated for this opportunity. I have already started a business but this is an extra boost to the business. Thank you very much,” she said.

The three were among 40 poultry farmers from communities surrounding Discovery Bauxite's operations in St. Ann who each received 50 broiler chicks and 10 bags of feed under a poultry development initiative spearheaded by the JBI, in partnership with Discovery Bauxite, Nutramix and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA).

In all, some 2,000 chicks were distributed during the handover exercise, which forms part of the JBI's Bauxite Community Development Programme, aimed at strengthening livelihoods and improving food production in mining communities.

The distribution followed a comprehensive poultry-management training programme, during which participants received practical instruction in broiler production, including housing preparation, feeding, disease prevention, biosecurity, record keeping and business management.

Senior Project Officer at the JBI, Wesley Harley, told JIS News that the initiative has been transforming lives in bauxite communities across the island for the past three years.

“The JBI, through the Bauxite Community Development Programme, has been doing poultry projects in communities which are linked to bauxite for the last three or so years,” he outlined.

Mr. Harley further noted that the programme first began in communities served by Windalco and has since expanded into Manchester, Clarendon, St. Catherine and now St. Ann.

He pointed out that beneficiaries were selected through their respective Bauxite Community Councils, ensuring that the support reached residents living closest to mining operations.

The initiative has taken on even greater significance in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, which severely affected poultry farmers across sections of the island.

Mr. Harley noted that the poultry industry is still recovering from the storm and said the project comes at a critical time for many small producers seeking to restore their operations.

He added that the programme is intentionally being rolled out in phases to communities across Jamaica's bauxite belt to prevent oversupplying the market, while ensuring that additional Councils receive similar support in the future.

Providing technical support to the initiative is RADA, whose officers worked alongside JBI in developing the project and preparing farmers for success.

Area Extension Officer for the Brown's Town Extension Area, Rohan Small, said the project grew out of a proposal prepared by the agricultural extension team and presented to the Discovery Bay Community Council.

“I give thanks to the Discovery Bay Community Council and the JBI because when we wrote this project to them, they were very much in favour,” he said.

Mr. Small noted that while many local farmers possess strong poultry-rearing skills, additional training is often needed in areas such as processing and marketing.

“They are very successful at rearing broiler chicks. They are experts, but when it comes down to the processing of the broiler birds, that’s where the challenge is sometimes,” he pointed out.

He said that the training sought to equip participants with practical knowledge that extends beyond production, helping them improve slaughtering practices, product quality and overall profitability.

With Jamaica currently experiencing high temperatures, Mr. Small also encouraged poultry farmers to adopt measures to reduce losses from heat stress.

Among the recommendations are reducing stocking densities during the summer months to improve airflow, providing birds with cool drinking water, and cooling poultry houses to create a more comfortable environment.

For beneficiaries like Ms. Bygrave, however, the greatest lesson may simply be that opportunity often arrives when it is needed most.

Armed with new knowledge, fresh supplies and renewed confidence, she now looks ahead to building a sustainable source of income, one chick at a time.

“This is a job now… . It’s a big start that [JBI] has given me,” she said beaming.

By Serena Grant