May 31, 2011

US to have US$14 million chicken farm
 
 
A US investor with years of agricultural production knowledge has been given permission to establish a large scale chicken business which will involve a US$14 million investment in North Andros.

In a brief interview on Friday (May 27), Robert L. Parker said the chicken farm will be a major and good project for Andros as it will employ a lot of people.

Minister of Agriculture, Larry Cartwright, confirmed that Parker had received government approvals to go ahead with his chicken production investment in around autumn 2010. On Sunday (May 29), Parker said he remains a little bit short of money but soon anticipates he will have the total financing in place to move ahead.

In the meantime, Cartwright said the USDA has been involved in an effort to try to locate the ideal property in North Andros for Parker to develop his farm. He is to lease Crown Land from the government for the project.

"The area he was interested in is not available," explained Cartwright, who added that it is likely the farm's chicken would be produced primarily for export, since the production of agricultural products in the Bahamas is reserved for Bahamians. He noted, however, that concessions can be made for providing to the local market.

Cartwright described Parker as having a wealth of knowledge in poultry production.