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Mark Campbell, President of the Egg Farmers Association and Dr. Kirk Harris, Production Manager at Jamaica Egg Services
Egg farmers would like to see Jamaicans eat more eggs.
Jamaicans consume on average about 1 and a half eggs per week and the Ministry of Agriculture wants to increase this to 2 eggs per week over the next three years.
But first, they have to address production challenges.
The current demand for eggs in Jamaica is about 900,000 per day – far more than the country's supply which is estimated at about 650,000 daily.
A number of countries have been grappling with a major egg shortage and Jamaica has not been spared.
Authorities are unsure when there will be some relief.
"The reality is that the vast majority of the birds in the field now are old birds. And old birds are usually on the way down. Their graph is heading down," conceded Mark Campbell, President of the Egg Farmers Association.
Global issues like the bird flu are also reducing hopes of prompt recovery.
But some local egg farmers have been managing to stay afloat because of a recent increase in the price of eggs.
Before Hurricane Beryl, a tray of 30 eggs would sell for approximately $900.
Today, most retailers are selling it for at least $1,400.
"Based upon current production figures... it takes approximately, dollar figure, $1,160 per flat of eggs to facilitate production and replacement of pullets. Which simply means that unless you're selling eggs for at least $1,300 to $1,400 a flat, you're actually behind the eight ball," said Dr. Kirk Harris, Production Manager at Jamaica Egg Services.
And this increase in prices could continue.
In the US, consumers are being urged to brace for higher prices later in 2025, sparking fears that the same will happen in Jamaica.
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