Where are the eggs? Traders lament over shortage

SHAH ALAM - Suppliers in the city claim the daily supply of chicken eggs received is down by up to 80 per cent and the situation started since last June.

A supplier, Basirah Omar, 50, said the lack of supply of chicken eggs received from farmers began after the Aidilfitri celebration and continued up to this day.

She said the situation caused the number of purchases of multi-grade chicken eggs to be limited to a maximum of 60 boards per day compared to 300 boards a day.

Basirah said this was due to a number of factors including the impact of the increase in production costs incurred by breeders to cause supply to be disrupted.

"We had to divide the supply with other suppliers because of the limitation, the farmers reduced the egg production of chickens since June because chicken feed (dedak) is expensive.

"I understand that there are chicken egg producers who are forced to close their farms because the capital is too high but the price of eggs is controlled, so it is better for them to close the farm.

"At the moment I only receive a supply of chicken eggs from the farmer level which is only 60 boards if compared to the previous order of 300 boards a day," she said.

The current price of chicken eggs in the Section 16’s modern market was sold in two grades at RM16.50 and RM12.30 per piece and many consumers choose to purchase the best grade chicken eggs at RM16.50.

Meanwhile, a food trader, Mariani Razak, 41, said she needed a supply of about 100 chicken eggs a day and had so far not faced a shortage of supplies.

"Although the supply of chicken eggs has not experienced a significant reduction, the price of chicken eggs has increased slightly over the past few months," Mariani said when interviewed by Sinar Harian.

Meanwhile, a visitor at the market, Latifah Asmawai, 65, said consumers should get a supply of chicken eggs even if the price was not stable.

"At the moment the price of chicken eggs is going up, the price of chicken eggs is getting more expensive but the supply of chicken eggs is always there and never breaks, it is also surprising that even the current grade D chicken eggs go up to RM3 per piece," she said.