Quality of local poultry ‘superior’

THE PNG Poultry Industry Association says the quality of local chicken meat and eggs is superior to imported products and local producers have no reason to increase prices.
The association made the statement in response to recent comments about increases in price of chicken.
Association secretary Dr Keith Galgal said efforts and capabilities of local producers to provide quality chicken meat and eggs at affordable prices had never been better.
“It is important for consumers to identify locally-made product to ensure the best quality and prices every time they shop,” he said.
“For example, locally-produced chicken meat is fresh, has less fat and more lean meat compared to imported products that look old and are covered with fatty tissues.”
Galgal said local producers were well aware of the increase in cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases in relation to consumption of high fat animal protein.
He said they had invested years of research on chicken breeds and nutrition, and capital in modern processing facilities to process and pack high quality lean products that were healthier for consumers.
“With 100 per cent reliance on local people to run plants and supply chain to provide services, the PNG Poultry Industry Association totally supports the employment needs for PNG, as well as follows the current Government’s policy on continuing development of agriculture as a significant part of the country’s economy,” he said.
Galgal said the Government was acting in the best interests of the country to ensure agriculture moved forward, and people could once again see agricultural value chain as the vehicle for economic growth.