Hi-Pro donates supplies to help livestock, crop farmers
Published:Thursday | December 18, 2025 | 12:10 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
Hi-Pro has moved to assist livestock and vegetable farmers badly affected by Hurricane Melissa with a donation of baby chicks, fertilisers, vegetable seeds, agricultural chemicals and feed for goats, pigs and layers, valued at $5.5 million, to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The items were handed over on Wednesday at the company’s White Marl headquarters in Central Village, Spanish Town.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hi-Pro Vice President Jaimie Ogilvie said Jamaica’s pig and chicken farmers are already rebounding seven weeks after the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa, and assured that there will be no shortage of poultry products during the holiday season.
“Inventory on hand, current production schedules are going to ensure that demand is met over the holidays,” Ogilvie said.
He revealed that, in the two weeks following the hurricane, the company distributed more than 360,000 baby chicks to farmers across the island. Most went to farmers in the central and eastern parishes, who he said have the capacity to compensate for production losses in western parishes.
“This is just to ensure that there is not going to be a shortfall in available chicken meat for the holidays,” he said, noting that the value of the 360,000 baby chicks amounts to $60 million.
Ogilvie added that Hi-Pro has made direct donations of agricultural inputs through several bodies and associations, including the Pig Farmers Association, the Egg Farmers Association, the Small Ruminants Association, farm stores and community-based farming groups.
“In total so far, we are at $80 million in direct input provided to the agricultural sector. This doesn’t include the weekly mobile veterinary clinics to the western parishes that were impacted, or the value of the technical support provided, or specific discounts extended, or the discretionary trade terms extended to those in need.”
He said the company has also pledged support to organisations such as the 4-H movement, to ensure that young people are included in building resilience within the agricultural sector.
An aggressive programme is also being considered to increase the availability of pullets to the market in 2026.
No Shortage for the Holiday
Addressing concerns about egg supply, Ogilvie said Hi-Pro, as a major stakeholder, will import table eggs to help fill any expected shortfall. The first shipment is scheduled to leave the United States on Friday, with weekly shipments to follow. He added that the company will work closely with the Egg Farmers Association to ensure egg farmers handle the distribution.
Meanwhile, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining Floyd Green said the support from Hi-Pro symbolises partnership and resilience within the sector.
“The support is not just for our poultry farmers but also our vegetable farmers in a very substantial way,” he said, noting that the donation, along with what the company has already done since Hurricane Melissa, will accelerate recovery efforts.
Green said disruptions to feed supply chains, climate systems and transportation networks in the poultry sector are expected to result in a 12 per cent decline in broiler meat production, while egg production is projected to fall by 28 per cent in the final quarter of 2025.
“I would have met with the main poultry companies and we are holding them accountable that there will be no shortage of chicken meat or eggs for the holiday.”
He said companies have assured the ministry that they have ramped up production and, coupled with a downturn in demand, will have significant inventory on hand. He added that while this is being done locally, the ministry is also looking to external sources to ensure an adequate supply of eggs.
“I have said to them that some of that downturn in demand should be translated into discounts for consumers.”
The minister said the ministry is also working to protect the local industry from diseases as recovery continues.