Egg production should stabilise by August, says Green

 

Consumers and suppliers grappling with a shortage of eggs and broilers chickens can expect an increase in supply by August 2026.

 

Agriculture Minister Floyd Green says some 400,000 layer chickens were killed during Hurricane Melissa, which compounded the already 40,000 lost during Hurricane Beryl in 2024. 

 

Some 700,000 broiler birds were also lost during Hurricane Melissa. 

 

Broilers are bred for rapid growth and efficient meat production. 

 

Layer chickens are selected based on their ability to produce large quantities of high quality eggs consistently over an extended period. The prolonged egg laying cycle typically spans up to two years or more. 

 

During day two of the Standing Finance Committee, Minister Green said egg production is expected to stabilise in a few months.

 

"We do expect, based on our engagements with the private sector, that we will have about 320,000 layers ready May, June. Until then, there will still be some tightness in terms of people being able to get layers. That has a direct correlation on eggs and we've seen a reduction in the egg market, in egg production. 

 

"We continue to meet with the Egg Farmers Association to ensure that our data aligns with what they're seeing out in the field. Based on our projections, we expect some parity to come back. As I said, when those 300,000 birds come into the market May, June, probably we're looking at July, August before we see that parity return," said the minister. 

 

He was responding to questions fielded by Opposition Spokesman on Agriculture Dr. Dayton Campbell. 

 

In response to the tightening in the market, the government had authorised the importation of eggs to fill the gap.

 

But Dr. Campbell said farmers have been complaining about a glut caused by the importation measure. 

 

Mr. Green said the ministry is unaware of a glut, adding that importation will cease once supply stabilises locally. 

 

"Based on our numbers thus far - and we had a meeting with the egg farmers probably a week ago or a week and a half ago - they are saying that they are seeing a quicker than expected recovery. We've said to them, all right, provide us with the data, we're sending out the teams to verify that. We have not seen decline as yet in terms of prices," he noted. 

 

"When you have a shortage, prices go up and prices went up directly after Hurricane Melissa and those prices have not yet dissipated, even though we have been tapping into external market. They have stabilised. Once the local market is able to satisfy over demand, then there will be no importation," he promised. "But what we don't want is to go back to a place where retail stores are rationing how much eggs people can buy."