The programme, which will be rolled out islandwide, will start on Friday and last until Christmas Eve, one day before the customary Christmas dinner.

The reduction was announced yesterday during a press conference held at the Office of the Prime Minister by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

This initiative is a joint venture between both ministries, along with poultry producers, processors and distributors.

According to Karl Samuda, minister of industry, investment and commerce, customers should now pay between $240 and $250 per kilogram.

The current price is about $294. The broiler companies will reduce their price between 19 and 22 per cent, which will mean a reduction to the consumer ranging from $46 to $54 per kilo for those purchasing amount of five kilos or more.

Fourth-quarter increase

Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Dr Christopher Tufton told the gathering that business for the poultry industry has been good this year, with producers exceeding last year's production.

"This year, the local poultry producers, both Caribbean Boilers Group and Jamaica Broilers Group, plus several small farmers, have produced significantly for the Christmas period. The fourth-quarter production figures for 2009 have shown a 29.7 per cent increase, moving from 36.7 million kilograms to 46.5 million kilograms," he said. Two hundred and fifty thousand kilos of this figure will be discounted.

At the meeting, both ministers implored distributors to pass the prices along to consumers, and said the Consumer Affairs Commission would be monitoring the process to ensure that Jamaicans benefit.