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Local poultry farm doubles capacity with VIP Gov’t support

- initiative came as part of Gov’t mandate to foster greater food security in VI
The KNK Poultry Farm located in Paraquita Bay, Tortola in the Virgin Islands (VI) has reportedly doubled its chicken capacity from 20,000 to 40,000 birds through Fahie Government support to foster greater food security in the VI. Photo: GIS
In November 2020, Subject Minister and Deputy Premier, Dr The Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said the VI must be ready for any food shortages that occur internationally. Photo: GIS/Facebook
In November 2020, Subject Minister and Deputy Premier, Dr The Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said the VI must be ready for any food shortages that occur internationally. Photo: GIS/Facebook
Dr Natalio D. Wheatley vowed that the Government will be working to revitalise both the agriculture and the local fishing sectors to provide more opportunities. Photo: Facebook
Dr Natalio D. Wheatley vowed that the Government will be working to revitalise both the agriculture and the local fishing sectors to provide more opportunities. Photo: Facebook
PARAQUITA BAY, Tortola, VI – The KNK Poultry Farm located in Paraquita Bay, Tortola, in the Virgin Islands (VI) has reportedly doubled its chicken capacity from 20,000 to 40,000 birds through the Fahie Government support to foster greater food security in the VI.

The initiative came through land leases signed to support food production via the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries, and Agriculture with businesses that approached the government for support.

Dubbed the ‘Paraquita Bay Agriculture Project,” the Government in 2020 embarked on a food security drive following the advent of COVID-19 and disruptions in food supplies as well as food shortages at the start of the pandemic.

“The poultry operation has doubled the company’s chicken capacity from 20,000 to 40,000 chickens and is providing greater food security for the Virgin Islands. The completion of this project is said to be progress towards revitalizing the Territory’s agriculture sector,” a release from the Government noted.

Gov't says it will support sustainable farming in VI 

While the KNP Poultry farm headquartered in Josiah's Bay has doubled its capacity for Proprietor Albert Pickering, one other local business owner, Bishop John I. Cline of Infinite Eco Solutions Ltd is exploring aquaponics opportunities via fish & food farming through the overall land agreement lease signed in March 2020. 

In November 2020, Subject Minister and Deputy Premier, Dr The Hon Natalio D. Wheatley (R7) said the VI must be ready for any food shortages that occur internationally. 

Dr Wheatley vowed that the Government will be working to revitalize both the agriculture and the local fishing sectors in addition to providing support for sustainable farming in the Virgin Islands.

“We spend lots and lots of money importing food, if we spend that money internally, it can circulate in our own economy and provide jobs and provide livelihoods in the VI,” he said. 

18 Responses to “Local poultry farm doubles capacity with VIP Gov’t support”

  • NezRez (19/12/2021, 15:02) Like (33) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good to see local agriculture supplying the people again. Now bring back Agriculture to it’s state with fruits, veggies, trees and Agriculture Week, which was so much fun. There’s a whole lot of clucking going on here in this picture. Love it.
  • Crs (19/12/2021, 15:30) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
    Why did take a couple of disasters to realize this could and should be done.
  • … (19/12/2021, 15:53) Like (25) Dislike (30) Reply
    Every sector is starting to move under the vip four more years mahson
  • ok (19/12/2021, 16:20) Like (16) Dislike (2) Reply
    who owns this?
    great investments
  • the watch dog (19/12/2021, 17:49) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    That man John hands in everything
  • KNK ALL THE WAY (19/12/2021, 18:01) Like (7) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wow this is a big game changer for the territory. All the best to BIG AL and the team.
  • Rights & Welfare (19/12/2021, 18:09) Like (5) Dislike (7) Reply
    This is NOT a great way of raising chickens - not as bad as battery farming, but still no daylight and no proper ranging. I do not want to buy eggs or meat from those scraggy, heavily medicated (antibiotics) chickens
  • Bye ! (19/12/2021, 18:49) Like (7) Dislike (4) Reply
    We ain’t forgetting all the harm y’all have done so don’t think for a second y’all getting our votes.

    But thanks for doing your job, the job you are suppose to be doing
  • @ OK (19/12/2021, 19:15) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    THE GHOST , now what?
  • here comes (19/12/2021, 19:34) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    here comes the people who post saying they don’t read VINO to quit to say something positive; Because criticizing is all they know…..
  • VI P is s waste. (19/12/2021, 20:00) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
    Big Christmas all that rain yet we can't get a constant flow of water in Road Town and Mac Namara. This is so unconscionable and rediculous. Third world countries doing better than us...To me it seems like government don't have a clue...Water in for 4 hrs off 20hrs. How worst can it get...Talk about that Sowande. Water is life..
  • The Nation (19/12/2021, 20:16) Like (2) Dislike (4) Reply
    This is excellent. Remember when Dr Pickering from the No Direction Party said this was a pie in the sky idea. Kudos to Andrew Fahie VIP Administration for being thinkers outside the box. !!!
  • dr.greenthumb (19/12/2021, 20:21) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    4 more yrs sowande
  • Rastarfari (20/12/2021, 01:18) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Y'all baldheads comfortable taken life
  • Fam (20/12/2021, 02:50) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good news where do i get to order?
  • farmer brown (20/12/2021, 04:29) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    How will the feed be grown?
  • good thing (20/12/2021, 09:08) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I don’t eat meat or poultry. Great for the people that eat poultry. My only question is where is the water source to sustain the chicken farm and where is the run off water from the farm going to be headed? Hope not in the street or the sea.
  • Dirt (21/12/2021, 16:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    What’s being done with all the chicken waste ? ( guts & poo )


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