Kingston, Jamaica — The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining is actively taking steps to ensure the stability of the country’s egg supply, amid ongoing challenges facing the sector. Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Floyd Green, provided an update on the ministry’s efforts during a post-Cabinet press briefing on Wednesday, February 19.
Green highlighted that the government had distributed approximately 50,000 pullets, or ready-to-lay hens, to the hardest-hit parishes by the end of December 2024. However, the country’s egg production has been hampered by unfavorable weather patterns that affected the pullets’ productivity. To alleviate the situation, the ministry has also initiated a plan to allow large-scale egg users, including the baking and hospitality sectors, to import liquid or powdered eggs, ensuring more whole eggs remain available for local consumers.
“We are not allowing the importation of whole eggs; it would have to be liquid, it would have to be powdered and will only be for the hospitality or baking sectors,” Green clarified.
The minister further noted that the industry has been working with major players like Jamaica Broilers and Caribbean Broilers to source hatching eggs from alternative markets such as Belgium and the Netherlands, given the challenges with egg supplies from the US.
Green pointed out that, while several areas of agriculture have recovered, the egg industry remains under pressure, particularly after Hurricane Beryl in 2024 caused the loss of over 43,000 laying hens. Projections indicate a 26% reduction in egg production for the first half of 2025, down to 95.4 million eggs from 123 million in 2024. This decrease is expected to contribute to higher egg prices in the short term.
Despite these challenges, Green expressed optimism that production levels would return to pre-hurricane levels by July 2025, provided there are no further disruptions. The government will continue to distribute pullets as part of its revitalization efforts to support the recovery of the egg industry.
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