Even as the Dominican government crowed about the accomplishment of raising chicken consumption to 15 million units per month, producers were realizing that actual consumption was closer to 14 million units monthly and that their production was exceeding demand by a large margin.

At a meeting with Agriculture Minister Salvador Jiménez it was agreed that the government will buy 845,000 units of the excess chickens for what basically amounts to a subsidy of about RD$46.4 million. Without this intervention by the government the chicken producers stood to lose in the neighourhood of RD$1 billion this year. In order to re-balance the market the producers have agreed to cut production by 12% and eliminate old hens.

While there was an exchange of accusations during the hours long meeting, many producers were heard to accept the blame for the overproduction.

No decision has yet been made on what the government will do with the meat.