KUCHING: Poultry farmers have warned that the current shortage of price-controlled eggs in the market could worsen ahead of the year-end festive season.
According to a report from The Star, Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations of Malaysia deputy president Lee Yoon Yeau said that the situation will not improve unless the government floated the prices of eggs that are currently regulated and leave it to market forces.
The mandated ceiling retail prices for Grade A, B and C eggs since July are 45 cents, 43 cents and 41 cents, respectively.
The price control mechanism does not apply to branded or “designer” eggs that are often enriched by the addition of supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids and so on, nor does it cover organically-produced or kampung eggs.
Lee said every time the ringgit slides against the US dollar, which is the currency denomination used when importing raw materials for poultry feed, costs go up for farmers.
“If the ringgit slides further against the US dollar in the near future, the imported feed raw material will become more expensive.
“This will lead to higher egg production costs, and farmers will be even more financially constrained.
“The situation will likely continue throughout next year,” he said.
