Local egg makers losing due to low consumption, high production costs
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Wed, 05 Feb 2020 06:22:46 +0000
Local egg producers are incurring losses due to low consumption and high costs of feeds, poultry diseases and other drawbacks. This was disclosed by Gregorio San Diego, Philippine Egg Board chair, at a joint press conference held by the Egg Board and the Department of Agriculture in Quezon City.
According to San Diego, while cost of production per egg is P3.10 to P3.20, the farm-gate price is less than P3. At present, retailers are selling eggs at P4 to P4.50 apiece.
Egg producers are thus proposing to sell eggs by kilo to standardize weight and prices, and plan to market it at P70 a kilo.
San Diego added that Philippine per capita egg consumption is only 52 pieces a year for every person while it is 200 for the Japanese, 151 for Thais, 242 for Malaysians, and 62 for Indonesians.
As such, in an effort to increase local egg consumption, the Egg Board and the DA signed a memorandum of understanding to intensify efforts in promoting egg consumption among Filipinos.
In the same press conference, agriculture undersecretary Cesar Drilon disclosed that studies done by the Livestock Development Council and the Food and Nutrition Research Institute indicated egg consumption is safe and beneficial as long as the cholesterol produced by the body and that supplied by other foods is taken into account.
Studies have show that a single egg supplies 29 percent to 50 percent of the daily protein requirement of children and 21 percent to 24 percent for adults. Egg also provides healthy doses of vitamins A, B6, B12, D, E, K, thiamine, niacin and riboflavin. These nutrients firm up muscles, keeps skin healthy, makes blood red, maintains good eyesight and provides energy.
With higher consumption, egg producers believe consumers could be assured of egg safety and freshness.
Local egg producers are also holding their 4th Philippine Egg Show in February to dispel misconception that eating egg everyday would kick up the body’s cholesterol levels as well as to promote eggs as the cheapest source of protein.
–Angelo S. Samonte