Agriculture Commissioner Louis E. Petersen Jr., Ph.D., invites farmers and other interested persons from throughout the territory to attend a meeting to discuss the development of a Virgin Islands Poultry Farmers Cooperative. This initiative seeks to assist poultry farmers with their production techniques, efficiency modeling and marketing strategies.
The St. Thomas meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the UVI Small Business Development Center Training Facility in the Nisky Center. The St. Croix meeting will be convened at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 26, in Room 133 of the Research Extension Center at the UVI St. Croix campus.
Topics for discussion will include: the function and benefits of cooperative, training and networking opportunities, and available resources and support for producer organizations.
“This latest initiative is part of the overall thrust of the administration to advance the business of agriculture. The development of a functional cooperative among poultry producers will strengthen their capacity to produce, market and purchase common supplies, feed and other needs. Furthermore, such an organizational structure will improve farmers’ ability to acquire financial resources,” said Petersen.
This initiative is jointly sponsored by the V.I. Department of Agriculture, the UVI Cooperative Extension Service and the UVI-SBDC. For additional information, contact the V.I. DOA at 774-5182.