New programs hatched to boost egg industry
The government has signed three agreements that would address the increase in egg prices while protecting the interest of the egg industry.
The Bureau of Animal Industry said these recently-signed deals would facilitate the development of various projects such as egg cold and dry warehouse, egg processing facility-large package and market support for small-scale egg producers.
“The project, funded by the National Livestock Program (NLP), seeks to address rising egg prices and challenges facing the layer sector,” the agency announced on Facebook.
The identified beneficiaries are Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative and First San Jose Municipal Employees Multipurpose Cooperative.
NLP is one of the banner programs of the Department of Agriculture, which seeks to develop the livestock and poultry subsectors through comprehensive policy and plans.
The DA issued Memorandum Circular No. 36 last September to support certain projects designed to boost the egg value chain, focusing on value-adding projects.
Article continues after this advertisement“The Philippines is self-sufficient in eggs but is vulnerable due to various factors such as high production costs, limited post-production capacity, high import dependency, and fluctuating prices,” said the memo dated Sept. 6.
Article continues after this advertisement“To sustain the growth of the layer industry and ensure stable supply of eggs, it is important to provide proper support for modernization initiatives to enhance productivity, income generation, and biosecurity measures among layer farmers,” it added.
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The circular said an egg cold storage and dry warehouse would prolong the shelf life of eggs and help stabilize supply and demand. On the other hand, a grant of P80 million will be provided to large egg production areas in Batangas, Bulacan and key areas in Visayas and Mindanao.
In providing logistic support and market linkages, the agency will prioritize areas with significant egg-producing industry.
Meanwhile, a P30-million grant is allocated for projects that will convert animal manure and other farm/crop waste into natural or organic fertilizer, starting with peri-urban areas such as Rizal. INQ
