"Our local chicken processors have advised the Ministry that they continue to meet the ongoing demands for chicken, heading into the peak Christmas and end of year periods," the ministry said in a press release.

With the decision to extend the Food Box Program for an additional three months from October to December 2021, coupled with a rise in demand for local chicken with the reopening of bars and food businesses, the National Agricultural Marketing and Development Corporation (NAMDEVCO) was able to acquire chickens on credit terms on certain days and in specific quantities, said the ministry. On that basis, local chicken is included with the food boxes when chicken is available to NAMDEVCO.

Although Raviram had said chicken wasn't included in the food box because of a shortage, the ministry said MPs had specifically requested that chicken not be included during the October/November period because their constituents were observing the traditional fasting period.

Both the Ministries of Finance and Agriculture, Land and Fisheries are collaborating to fund the current liabilities to local chicken processors and farmers as already approved by Cabinet and to do so before the Food Box Program completes the current cycle on 22 December 2021.