BAS: Producers left with unsold livestock worth thousands as buying shifts

Local pig farmers are facing severe financial challenges as imported pork, particularly from Suriname, continues to dominate the market, warns James Paul, CEO of the Barbados Agricultural Society (BAS).

Paul described the situation as a crisis for the pork industry, with small-scale farmers struggling to sell their livestock and losing thousands of dollars.

He pointed to the case of one farmer, who traditionally supplied a major supermarket chain but is now left with 80 pigs—some already at market weight—without any buyers. This follows the supermarket’s decision to stop purchasing directly from farmers and instead source pork from a single processing company.

“There was not expected to be any loss of market share for local pig farmers,” Paul told Barbados TODAY on Monday. “However, we are now in March, and this farmer, who has been feeding his pigs at a cost of $3 000 a week, has been left with no market to sell them.”

Paul further explained that these 80 pigs represent about $80 000 worth of meat, as he insisted that urgent intervention is needed to prevent further economic fallout.

“We cannot allow trade agreements to destroy our local pork industry,” he said. “This is about protecting the livelihoods of Barbadian farmers who are struggling to survive in an already challenging economic environment.”

Last year, the supermarket chain which Paul referred to closed its in-house butcher shop, forcing farmers to sell through the processing company. What was meant to be a smooth transition has instead left some farmers without a market, as the processing facility has allegedly reduced its local procurement in favour of imports.

Paul said the availability of cheap imported pork from Suriname is hurting the industry and if left unchecked, the situation would worsen.

“This is producing a very perilous situation for local pig producers,” he warned. “The market is unable to absorb the number of pigs that our farmers have ready for sale.”

Paul explained that due to favourable import duties and lower production costs in Suriname, imported pork is being sold at competitive prices, making it extremely difficult for local farmers to compete.

“If imported pork is being substituted in supermarkets for locally sourced meat, this is extremely unfair to our farmers,” he asserted. “They are losing their market, and some may be forced out of business altogether.”

He added that a major local food manufacturing company had also reduced its local purchases due to the influx of imported pork cuts.

While Paul said he welcomes regional trade, he insisted that it should not come at the expense of local industries. The BAS has called on the government to intervene, urging stronger protections for local farmers and greater accountability from importers. 

Paul also stressed the need for commitments from importers to prioritise local meat, similar to the purchasing agreements in place for other agricultural products.

“We need to have a discussion with importers to ensure they align with government policies on agricultural development. Our local farmers cannot be sacrificed for the benefit of foreign suppliers,” he said.

The BAS chief also urged supermarkets and processors to fulfill their corporate social responsibility by supporting local pig farmers.

“I would hope that companies . . . which have previously demonstrated good corporate responsibility will impress upon their suppliers and supermarkets the need to support local industries as they did in the past,” he said.

Last April, farmers contacted Barbados TODAY to voice their concerns about the arrangement of selling through the processing company. They said that at least 20 to 25 per cent of the local market was being lost to imports. They said they feared this would only run more farmers out of business and cause others to significantly reduce the amount of pigs they produce. 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb