Dominica’s Ministry of Agriculture begins testing at the upgraded Layou Park abattoir to boost local meat production and improve food safety.
Dominica: The Government continues in its efforts to strengthen the country’s agricultural sector, as the Ministry of Agriculture shares that the National Abattoir will begin operating soon, with the testing phase currently ongoing.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Blue and Green Economy has provided an update on the upgraded National Pork and Poultry Abattoir located at Layou Park, announcing that it has officially begun testing of operations at the facility.
The ongoing testing operation phase is progressing well so far, with the facility still scheduled to begin operations in a few weeks.
This National Abattoir is part of the government's larger plan to strengthen the livestock sector in Dominica by increasing local meat production. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the chicken and pork facility has been designed to process up to 5,000 chickens and 50 per day, which will help realize this goal.
Moreover, this investment made by the Government is said to improve hygiene standards, strengthen food safety, and reduce Dominica’s food import bill, which currently exceeds EC$20 million in pork and chicken annually.
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The Ministry has shared updates on the ongoing phase on its Facebook page, where it has described the testing phase as a meaningful step forward for the country’s agricultural sector.
This marks a major step forward in strengthening our livestock sector and improving food safety and quality for all,” captioned the Agriculture Ministry.
Understanding all the benefits the chicken and pork processing facility will bring to the country and farmers, the Ministry has encouraged citizens to show their support and consume local meat products, which will soon be readily available for their demand.
The Ministry told the consumers, Choose fresh, choose quality, choose Dominican. Demand local when you shop and support our hardworking farmers.
The Ministry has also invited all farmers to reach out to the Livestock Development Unit at the Division of Agriculture or the Animal Health Officer at any Farmer Service Centre island in Dominica to get the needed information about the chicken and pork processing facility.