Hike in egg price
PETALING JAYA: The recent increase in the price of chicken eggs is unavoidable as farmers need to cope with the increased cost of production said the Federation of Livestock Farmers Associations of Malaysia president Datuk Jeffrey Ng.
"If you ask me whether the increase is serious, it is not. It is a natural thing," he told theSun when contacted.
Ng said public should also refrain from pointing finger at farmers, but instead understand the plight of the egg producers whenever there were any increase in the price of the products.
He said some farms were backed into a corner as they could not even afford to buy animal feed for their chicken.
Ng added that smaller farms were facing the possibility of closing operation.
"They (farms) will not be able to survive if prices are not revised. If every consumer expects for the price to always remain low, one day all the farms would have to be shut down," he said.
He also reminded consumers not to be panic with the increase and assured consumers there was not shortage of eggs in the market.
Meanwhile, the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations deputy president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said consumers could resort to other alternatives if they think any hike in the price of goods could hurt their pocket.
"The government could also play a role in this issue in ensuring there is a balance in supply and demand.
"In the case of chicken, we will usually import the product from other countries. Maybe we can adopt the same technique when it comes to eggs," he said.
Checks conducted by theSun here had found that the price of eggs in the market had increased by about 2 sen each.
An egg seller in Petaling Jaya Old Town Wet Market said the increased prices differed according to the grade of the eggs.
The seller, who refused to be named, said for instance, the price for a tray of 30 Grade A eggs was now tagged at RM11.10, an increase from the RM10.50 price sold previously.
He added for one carton of Grade B egg, the shop was selling at RM10.80, an increase by 60 sen.