Report on the Activities of the

Jamaica Egg Farmers Association

Mark Campbell, President

The Jamaica Egg Farmers Association (JEFA) has membership of over forty (40) farmers representing 70% of the national production and sales of table eggs. This therefore comprises over 300,000 laying birds producing over 97 million eggs per annum. The table egg industry employs over 3,000 persons.

Hurricane Ivan’s presence in Jamaica has resulted in the destruction of our farms and devastation of our livelihood. Over one hundred and twenty thousand layers and pullets have died, resulting now in an acute shortage of eggs on our south coast, principally Kingston. Of the 90,000 laying birds that perished, 60,000 belonged to members of the JEFA. Of the 30,000 plus pullets that died, approximately 70% would have gone to JEFA farmers. The JEFA however assures consumers that measures are in place to fill the current shortfall in eggs.

ACTIVITIES OF JEFA

2003 – 2004

ACHEIVEMENTS

  1. Provides consumers with a safe product.
  2. Active member of the Caribbean Poultry Association
  3. Training and Institutional Development - Emphasis during the year 2003 – 2004 has been on the training of farmers and associates of the table egg industry. JEFA with funding from the Caribbean Regional HRD Programme for Economic Competitiveness and in association with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, has trained over 200 persons on:

a) Grading and Labeling of Table Eggs – This was conducted by a

Consultant from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The focus of the workshop was on the grading and labeling standards for CARICOM, which JEFA helped to draft at the Caribbean Regional Organization for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)

b) “Farm Food Safety for Table Egg Farms” conducted by Arnold Reid

of the Canadian Egg Marketing Association. The workshops were conducted in three locations held in May Pen, Montego Bay and Port

Maria, with the assistance of the Rural Agricultural and Development

Authority.

c) “Food Safety and Public Health of Table Eggs” presented by

Dr. Linette Peters of the Veterinary Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health was conducted in Kingston and Montego Bay.

These workshops have allowed training and sensitization of farmers, extension officers, consumers and consumer advocacy groups, supermarket employees etc. The workshops should result in the continued production of a quality table egg and increased awareness by consumers and retailers on the proper ways to handle and store eggs and grading and labeling of the eggs.

  1. Outreach - Contact, with the aim of developing strategic alliances and dissemination of updated scientific information on eggs has been made, with Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute, Caribbean College of Physicians, MAJ, JCDC, RADA, Tropical and Metabolism Research Institute at the U.W.I.
  1. Advertising:

JEFA has embarked on an advertising programme to increase the consumption of table eggs in Jamaica. We have used jingles on nine radio stations.

Advertorials on eggs were printed in the food supplement section

of The Gleaner. A programme is being developed which will see a number of

billboards set up in Kingston, Portmore and Montego Bay, advertising eggs.

  1. Other egg promotion activities took place during the year in the form of radio interviews.
  1. Export of Eggs

JEFA exported over 100,000 dozen eggs in December 2003 and January 2004 to Trinidad and Tobago.

  1. Avian Disease Surveillance Programme:

The Caribbean HRD Programme for Economic Competitiveness in association with the Veterinary Division of the Ministry of Agriculture conducted a small islandwide Avian Disease Surveillance Programme. This programme involved farms being tested for Salmonella, Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza and Campylobacter. Information Flyers on ‘Farm Food Safety Practices’ for farmers were prepared and distributed by the Dr. Cedric Lazarus of the Veterinary Division, Ministry of Agriculture.

The value of this programme cannot be overstated, especially as Jamaica seeks to export eggs and other chicken products as well as address local food safety concerns.

  1. Agribusiness Council of Jamaica is partnering with JEFA to develop a pogramme of passive immunity to Salmonella. Agribusiness Council is also prepared to do a newsletter for JEFA, as well as provide administrative assistance.
  1. Chicken Festival – JEFA participated in this festival in May 2004, showcasing eggs, egg-based dishes and drinks prepared by farmers.
  1. Market Survey – The Agricultural Support Services of the Ministry of Agriculture will be providing grant funds to assist JEFA in the long awaited survey for table and liquid eggs. This will assist us to properly position the product as we seek to increase table egg consumption in Jamaica.
  1. Caribbean Poultry Association Egg School 2004 in Trinidad and Tobago.

JEFA was represented by four of our farmers and sponsored by CPEC.

The Way Forward 2004 – 2005

The JEFA has recently hosted its Annual General Meeting where the new Board of Directors was elected. They are as follows:

Mr. Mark Campbell – President; Mr. Roy Baker – Vice President, Mr. Vincent Fenton – Treasurer; Mrs. Cislin Holloway – Secretary. Directors: Messrs. Wendel Abrahams, Ian Banks and Hansel Williams.

JEFA and its Board will address and implement programmes to continue providing technical assistance to farmers to produce a good quality product, introduce a grading and labeling programme, increase consumer awareness on the goodness of eggs, advertise and promote eggs in various consumer groups.

We hope that through our programmes and activities members, our members will sell more eggs, produce eggs more efficiently, place a better and better looking product on the market, develop and maintain a system of continuous diseases surveillance and as Hurricane Ivan so painfully reminded us, find a way to provide insurance coverage for our farmers.

Farmers are being encouraged to begin to treat their egg operation as a business; to plan, to keep accounts and records. Consumers are being encouraged to eat more eggs as they are good for you!!

Support your Local Table Egg Producers!!

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