12/08/2026
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Pressure for the weeks ahead
Hot spell hits chicken supply; full recovery still weeks away as farmers cut back on birds
Consumers may be finding it harder to get their usual quantities of chicken, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries acknowledging tighter poultry supplies and pointing to extreme heat as one of the factors putting pressure on production.
The ministry said there is no fundamental shortage of production capacity, but a combination of factors has tightened the supply chain.
Among the biggest challenges is the exceptionally hot weather being experienced across Trinidad and Tobago.
The high temperatures have forced poultry farmers to take additional steps to protect their birds from heat stress. In some cases, farmers have also reduced the number of chickens being placed on farms.
The ministry said the decision to scale back bird placement is a precautionary measure aimed at protecting poultry welfare and preventing heat-related deaths and production losses.
Keeping farms at normal stocking levels during periods of extreme heat could result in higher mortality among birds and lower overall production, the ministry explained.
While chicken remains available to consumers, some shoppers may experience difficulty obtaining their usual quantities at certain retail outlets.
However, the ministry said it expects the situation to ease.
Based on current hatchery projections, more chicks are expected to become available over the next two weeks. Those birds will then move through the normal production cycle, with poultry supplies projected to steadily increase and return to full levels about three weeks after that.
The ministry is also monitoring local production, hatchery output, imports and weather conditions while maintaining discussions with poultry producers and other industry stakeholders.
It said farmers are expected to gradually return to normal placement levels as weather conditions improve and modern husbandry and heat-management practices continue to be implemented.
For now, the ministry is assuring consumers that it is closely watching the poultry supply chain and working with industry stakeholders to address the temporary tightening.
The ministry said poultry remains an important component of national food security and that it remains committed to maintaining a stable and reliable supply for households.— Story by I.A.N News
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