THE ONLY affordable protein source for the poor Filipino families would soon become burdensome as farmgate prices of eggs are being sold at higher prices because of disease outbreaks.
The Philippine Egg Board Association (PEB), founded in 1998 by a dedicated group of 12 layer raisers has grown to represent over 15 million birds across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, warned that egg retail prices may rise as farmgate prices have risen substantially owing to disease outbreaks, that forced many farms to depopulate.
PEBA President Francis Uyehara told reporters that the local layer industry is currently grappling with production issues which catapulted farmgate prices to as much as P7 apiece.
This followed a supply glut in the second quarter when farmgate prices of a medium-sized egg dove to P3 per piece.
Uyehara attributed the price increase to disease outbreaks, such as infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT), inclusion body hepatitis (IBH), and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI).
“These three diseases are contributing to the deficiency in production that is now causing an artificial shortage and an increase in the farmgate prices of eggs,” he said at the sidelines of a poultry trade fair in Pasay City on Wednesday.
Should the upward trajectory in farmgate prices persist, Uyehara warned that this would trickle into retail costs ahead of the typical price hike in December due to the surge in demand, Business MIrror quoted him.
“If farmgate prices continue to increase, the retail price will also be forced to adjust to perhaps more than P9 per piece.” Then there goes the favorite Christmas dessert of leche flan.
Uyehara said the industry is also struggling to address these outbreaks, which was further compounded by issues in vaccine licensing and distribution.
“We can’t control these diseases, even with highly specialized veterinarian consultants. They don’t have a conviction that they can address these current outbreaks, since these viruses can mutate,” he said.
He mentioned issues surrounding the licensing of appropriate vaccines. “The registration of the vaccines we need against these diseases takes too long,” he complained.
Government price monitoring reports showed the prevailing price of extra small and small eggs stood at P7 per piece, with medium eggs at P8 per piece. Large and extra-large eggs cost P9 per piece, with jumbo eggs sold at P10 per piece.
PEBA said last May that local layer industry players are culling their flock due to a glut in the supply of small-sized eggs to minimize losses as farmgate prices fell despite soaring input costs due to geopolitical tensions.
Uyehara told the Business Mirror that the global oil crisis has jacked up prices of animal feeds and other products required by raisers for their operations.
Heat stress and lackluster demand created a surplus of smaller-sized eggs or those that belong in the extra small, small, and medium categories, he added.