Philippine egg farmers push to raise consumption

Egg producers in the Philippines are aiming to increase domestic per capita egg consumption by engaging in a marketing campaign.

 

The Philippines has one of the lowest egg consumption in the Southeast Asian region because the product is linked only to breakfast, said Gregorio A. San Diego Jr., President of the National Federation of Egg Producers of the Philippines.

 

Per capita egg consumption in the Philippines is 94, compared to Thailand 145, Malaysia 305 and the US 257, said San Diego citing the Business World.

 

Though eggs are inexpensive and a reliable source of protein and other essential nutrients, its popularity has been erratic due to high cholesterol content.

 

The Egg Board is planning to collect five to 10 cents for each layer sold to local farmers to fund an egg promotion campaign. The Egg Board expects to collect about PHP5.1 million.

 

In March, layer imports reached 360,000 birds, up from 350,000 last year but down from the record high import of 442,326 layers in 2007, which resulted in oversupply.

 

Egg production, which represented 2.39 percent of total agriculture output, rose 4.67 percent to 350,770 tonnes worth PHP10.056 billion last year, from 335,110 tonnes valued at PHP9.607 billion in 2007, according to data from the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS).

 

Egg popularity is rising so there is a chance that per capita consumption will increase, but one of the challenges is the distorted market, San Diego said.

 

Consumers have complained that egg prices are high in the retail market but farm-gate prices are low, he said, adding that the PHP3.69 tag in the farm went as high as PHP4.30 to PHP4.50 per egg in the markets.

 

The Philippines is also unable to export eggs to its Southeast Asian neighbours because of the high production costs involved, San Diego said.

 

Thailand holds advantages in corn supply and lower electricity costs compared to the Philippines, he said.

 

San Diego said their corn production was affected last year, and they are looking for solutions to increase output to meet the requirements of the poultry and livestock sector.

 

Agriculture undersecretary, Jesus Emmanuel M. Paras, said the country's corn production was affected last year and they are looking for solutions to increase output to meet the requirements of the poultry and livestock sector.

 

The BAS estimated corn production in the first half of 2009 to drop 2.45 percent on-year to 3.21 million tonnes, as harvest area and yield might drop by 0.47 percent and 1.98 percent, respectively.

 

US$1 = PHP47.2585 (May 29)