The government is currently considering plans to convert surplus eggs into powder and other alternative products as part of its initiatives to tackle ongoing surpluses in the poultry industry and mitigate the losses experienced by farmers.
This initiative is part of a larger strategy outlined in the proposed national poultry master plan, which aims to stabilize prices, extend shelf life, minimize post-production losses, and create new market opportunities within the poultry value chain.
In a media briefing following a stakeholder dialogue regarding the proposed poultry master plan, Chief Technical Advisor to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Kwesi Etu-Bonde, stated that the government is focusing on value addition and enhanced storage capacity to effectively manage the surplus egg production.
“Eggs can be processed into powder, and this is a key aspect of the value addition that we aim to achieve through the poultry master plan,” he remarked.
For years, industry stakeholders have raised concerns about the periodic oversupply of eggs, which often compels poultry farmers to sell at significantly reduced prices, resulting in considerable financial losses.
Mr. Etu-Bonde elaborated that recent government initiatives to support maize and soya production have led to decreased feed prices, thereby encouraging more individuals to engage in poultry farming.
“The issue of the egg surplus has been brought to our attention. Last year, the ministry facilitated the production of grains like maize and soya, which has lowered feed prices. Consequently, more individuals have been motivated to enter poultry production,” he explained.
He further mentioned that the government is also leveraging the School Feeding Programme as part of its strategy to absorb some of the excess supply available in the market.
“The President has directed that the School Feeding Programme should procure eggs from the market as part of the initiative to support poultry farmers,” he added.
According to him, the proposed poultry master plan will delineate long-term strategies to fortify the poultry value chain, enhance processing capabilities, and alleviate the effects of recurring production surpluses throughout the nation.
