Report on the Workshop on “On-Farm Food Safety for Table Egg Farms

July 21, 23, 24, 2004.

Caribbean Regional HRD Programme for Economic Competitiveness/ Inter-American Institute for the Cooperation on Agriculture/ Jamaica Egg Farmers Association

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REPORT ON THE WORKSHOP

ENTITLED:

“FOOD SAFETY & SANITATION OF TABLE EGG FARMS”

Caribbean Regional HRD Programme for Economic Competitiveness (CPEC)

Inter-American Institute for the Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

Jamaica Egg Farmers Association (JEFA)

Report by:Cordia L. Thompson

Workshop Coordinator

August 3, 2004.

Abbreviations

CEMA-Canadian Egg Marketing Association

CPA-Caribbean Poultry Association

CPEC-Caribbean Regional HRD Programme for

Economic Competitiveness

EIDP-Egg Improvement Development Programme

IICA-Inter-American Institute for the Cooperation on

Agriculture

JEFA-Jamaica Egg Farmers Association

RADA-Rural Agricultural Development Authority

List of Appendices

Appendix 1-Workshop Flyer

Appendix 2-Workshop Agenda

Appendix 3-List of Participants

Appendix 3 (i)-List of Participants – Clarendon Workshop

Appendix 3 (ii)-List of Participants – St. James Workshop

Appendix 3 (iii)-List of Participants – St. Mary Workshop

Appendix 4-Evaluation Form

Table of Contents

Page No.

1.0Introduction5

2.0Objectives5

3.0Methodology6

4.0Workshop Procedure6

5.0Evaluation Results7

6.0Conclusion11

Report on the Table Egg Grades and Standards Workshop

Date:June 21, 23, 24, 2004.

Venue:RADA Conference Rooms in Clarendon, St. James and St. Marya

respectively.

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1.0Introduction:

The Caribbean Regional Human Resources Development Programme (CPEC) in association with the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association and the Inter-American Institute for the Cooperation on Agriculture is currently implementing a project to provide institutional strengthening of the egg industry in Jamaica. Jamaica in association with the Caribbean Poultry Association developed an Egg Industry Improvement Programme in 2001, which has the goal of promoting the increased consumption of table eggs through improvements in marketing effectiveness and cost competitiveness of the industry and through support of the agencies of the public sector including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and the Bureau of Standards. Specifically the EIDP would like the outcome of its project to:

  • Increase per capita consumption of eggs from current 52 eggs per capita to 100 eggs per capita in 2005.
  • Improve the retailing and distribution of eggs by implementing a grading system and promote premium-pricing system.
  • Improve the grading, labeling and food safety standards.
  • Reduce the spread in egg farmer productivity and cost competitiveness.
  • Improve avian health through a disease surveillance programme, CPA hatchery sanitation programme and public awareness.

The CPEC funded project will provide the required resources to improve the capacity of farmers and others who are involved in the production and on-farm food safety of table eggs in Jamaica.

2.0Objective:

To train farmers and public health inspectors on the on-farm food safety methods to be applied to table egg production. Specifically they were:

i)To develop the participants knowledge, understanding and application of food and bio-safety requirements and methods for table egg farms.

ii)To develop the participants knowledge and understanding of the CARICOM manual.

iii)To recognize and respond to specific hazards on the egg farm.

iv)To inform participants about the recent developments, in the world, in food and bio-safety of table eggs.

3.0Methodology:

Meetings were held with the JEFA, IICA and CPEC towards organizing the symposium. Venues were decided on and the RADA conference rooms in Clarendon, St. James and St. Mary were chosen

A Flyer was developed and sent via fax along with letters to prospective participants. The Extension Officers in Clarendon and St. Mary assisted in mobilizing participants. Most of the egg farmers of the JEFA were contacted via the telephone, by the Coordinator,twice to inform and to confirm attendance.The President of JEFA also assisted with some of the calls. In addition, the farmers had been informed at one of their monthly meetings of this pending workshop.

Mr. Arnold Read of the Canadian Egg Marketing Association (CEMA) was the trainer. He sent, via courier and email, the text of his main presentations and a video.

The Agenda (Appendix 2) was prepared and vetted by the JEFA, CPEC and IICA.

4.0Workshop Procedure:

Opening Session

The Opening Ceremonies included speeches from Parish Managers and a Deputy Parish Manager of RADA and the President of JEFA, Mr. Mark Campbell and other representatives from JEFA. At all of the sessions, a short biography of Mr. Read was read. Mrs. Marcia Philips-Dawkins was present at Opening of the Clarendon workshop.

Technical Session

The presenter began with a background to the day’s proceedings. The participants were asked to introduce themselves for Mr. Read.

The topic on “On-Farm Food Safety” was presented by Mr. Read who supplemented the presentation with the showing of a video on on-farm food safety of table egg farms in Canada.

The second presentation was on the CARICOM manual for on-farm food safety that had been developed by the Caribbean Poultry Association. A second video on “The Egg” was next shown.

Questions and discussion were entertained during the presentations.

The workshops ended on average at 3:00 p.m. at the three workshops

Food and Beverage

This was handled by a local caterer in each of the three parishes and funded by JEFA.

Participants

A total of ninety-three (93) participants attended the three (3) workshops. The details are as follows:

Clarendon:

There were twenty-five (25) participants at the workshop and they included 10 women and 15 men. The participants’ registration list is attached as Appendix 3 (i).

Organizations represented included: JEFA, RADA, Jamaica Egg Services Ltd. and the National Youth Service (NYS). There were 16 egg farmers present.

St. James:

There were twenty-four (24) participants at the workshop and they included 3 women and 21 men. The participants’ registration list is attached as Appendix3 (ii).

Organizations represented included: JEFA, RADA, Public Health Department and Pesticides Control Authority. There were 12 egg farmers present.

St. Mary:

There were forty-four (44) participants at the workshop and they included 14 women and 30 men. The participants’ registration list is attached as Appendix 3 (iii).

Organizations represented included: JEFA, RADA. and Public Health Department. There were 18 broiler and egg farmers present.

5.0Evaluation Results

Clarendon

There were thirteen (13) evaluation forms completed at the Clarendon workshop. Placing a name on the form was optional. The objectives of the symposium were asked to be considered when completing the form. The forms were completed at the end of the formal presentations of the workshop. The Evaluation Form is attached as Appendix 4.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the participants indicated that they were farmers;

Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the participants indicated that the workshop achieved its objectives very well; 23% said that the workshop achieved its objectives well.

Eighty-five percent (85%) said that it was very worthwhile to have attended the workshop; 15% said fairly worthwhile.

Thirty-nine percent (39%) felt confident that they would be able to apply the skills and techniques learnt; 46% felt very confident.

Thirty-one percent (31%) indicated that they understood the CARICOM manual; another 31% said that they understood some of it.

Ninety-two percent (92%) indicated that the workshop was not difficult to understand.

Topics Most Useful:

  • Biosecurity – 46.15% of participants;
  • Cleaning procedures – 23.08 of participants;
  • Salmonella – 7.69% of participants;

oRodent control – 7.69%;

  • All topics – 7.69 of participants.

Topics Least Useful:

  • Not applicable (all topics useful) – 61.54% of the participants;
  • Recording keeping – 15.38% of the participants;
  • Cleaning procedures – 15.38% of the participants.

Topics Requiring Additional Information:

  • Not applicable – 53.85 of the participants;
  • Pest control – 23.08% of the participants;
  • Record keeping – 15.38% of the participants
  • Cleaning procedures– 7.695% of the participants;

Responses on what could have been done to further improve the symposium:

  • A little more information and attendance from egg production farmers;
  • Workshop very informative;
  • Workshop well put together;
  • Not applicable (76.92%).

General comments:

  • Workshop very informative, keep up the good work;
  • Workshop well organized;
  • Would like information on caring of birds e.g. medication and care for better production;
  • Not applicable.

St. James

There were thirteen (13) evaluation forms completed at the St. James workshop. Placing a name on the form was optional. The objectives of the symposium were asked to be considered when completing the form. The forms were completed at the end of the formal presentations of the workshop. The Evaluation Form is attached as Appendix 4.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of the participants indicated that they were farmers; 30.77% were Public Health Inspectors.

Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the participants indicated that the workshop achieved its objectives very well; 31% said that the workshop achieved its objectives well.

Seventy-seven percent (77%) said that it was very worthwhile to have attended the workshop; 15% said fairly worthwhile.

Fifty-four percent (54%) felt confident that they would be able to apply the skills and techniques learnt; 31% felt very confident.

Sixty-two percent (62%) indicated that they understood the CARICOM manual; another 15% said that they understood some of it.

One hundred percent (100%) indicated that the workshop was not difficult to understand.

Topics Most Useful:

  • Farm food safety – 46.15% of participants;
  • Biosecurity – 15.38% of participants;
  • Records – 7.69% of participants;
  • All topics – 30.77% of participants.

Topics Least Useful:

  • Not applicable (all topics useful) – 92.31% of participants;
  • Caricom manual – 7.69% of participants.

Topics Requiring Additional Information:

  • Not applicable – 23.08% of the participants;
  • Food safety – 7.69% of participants;
  • Cleaning practice – 7.69% of participants;
  • Sampling methodology – 7.69% of participants;
  • Caricom manual – 23.08% of participants.

Responses on what could have been done to further improve the symposium:

  • More information;
  • More emphasis be placed on our local egg production in Jamaica;
  • More emphasis on the layout of the farm;
  • Handout on egg inspection;
  • More farmer employees and supermarket operators should have been invited;
  • Not applicable.

General comments:

  • Workshop excellent;
  • Very informative
  • More farmers should be invited;
  • Good workshop;
  • Workshop properly organized.

St. Mary

There were thirty-four (34) evaluation forms completed at the St. Mary workshop. Placing a name on the form was optional. The objectives of the symposium were asked to be considered when completing the form. The forms were completed at the end of the formal presentations of the workshop. The Evaluation Form is attached as Appendix 4.

Twenty-nine percent (29%) of the participants indicated that they were farmers; 47.06% were Public Health Inspectors.

Fifty-three percent (53%) of the participants indicated that the workshop achieved its objectives very well; 32.35% said that the workshop achieved its objectives well.

Fifty-nine percent (59%) said that it was very worthwhile to have attended the workshop; 38% said fairly worthwhile.

Thirty-eight percent (38%) felt confident that they would be able to apply the skills and techniques learnt; 31% 29.41% very confident.

Fifty-two percent (52%) indicated that they understood the CARICOM manual; another 41.18% said that they understood some of it.

One hundred percent (100%) indicated that the workshop was not difficult to understand.

Topics Most Useful:

  • All topics – 20.59% of participants;
  • Biosecurity – 46.15 of participants;
  • Cleaning procedures – 8.82% of participants;
  • Record keeping – 8.82% of participants;
  • Code of farm management – 8.82% of participants;
  • On farm food safety – 8.82% of participants.

Topics Least Useful:

  • Not applicable (all topics useful) – 88.24% of participants;
  • Sanitation – 2.94 % of participants.

Topics Requiring Additional Information:

  • Not applicable – 52.948% of the participants;
  • Process of obtaining Grade A eggs;
  • Processing & pasteurization of eggs;
  • Egg sanitation
  • Production
  • Salmonella enteriditis
  • Biosecurity
  • Marketing arrangements;
  • Caricom manual;
  • Dirty, cracked and leaking eggs.

Responses on what could have been done to further improve the symposium:

  • More up to date video tape;
  • A tour of a modern farm;
  • More involvement of participants.

General comments:

  • Workshop was informative;
  • Very good presentation;
  • Very useful workshop;
  • Workshop was beneficial and interesting;
  • More of these workshops can be useful.

6.0Conclusion:

The workshop was very useful judging from the feedback. The farmers and public health inspectors seemed to have benefited largely. They participated at a high level during the workshop. They also craved for additional information and would benefit from follow-up workshops perhaps presented on an annual basis. The three workshops were insufficient to cover the island but ended with a total of ninety-three (93) participants over a 3-day period. The trainer, Mr. Read, did a good job and was able to discuss with the farmers and public health inspectors their issues and concerns about the food safety matters for egg farms. It was good to have exposed the Jamaicans to the Canadian experience.

It is important that the farmers now have a further vision of the possibilities of developing the table egg industry.

IICA provided substantial support towards implementing this workshop along with CPEC.

APPENDICES

1

Cordia L. Thompson

August 3, 2004.

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