Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture has laid out a plan to help prevent future egg shortages. Taiwan is currently in the midst of an egg shortage. According to poultry industry officials, the shortage is in part due to cold weather, which has killed off many egg-laying hens. Additionally, chickens have also been culled in response to avian flu infections.
The Council of Agriculture has taken steps to address the current shortage, including reducing tariffs on chicken feed as well as offering bonuses and subsidies to farmers who increase egg production. The council also plans on importing eggs from the US, Australia, and Japan to help bolster supplies.
Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung says that over the next four years, the government will provide low-interest loans to help egg producers and suppliers expand their operations. Additionally, the government will provide subsidies to improve chicken health and help with logistics, in order to prolong the shelf-life of eggs.
According to poultry industry officials, Taiwan currently has around 31.5 million egg-laying hens, which produce around 21.4 million eggs a day. However, there is still a supply deficit of around 1.4 million eggs daily.