THE government will only import eggs from India until local supplies stabilise, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said.

He said the measure was taken because local producers were unable to meet demand, which resulted in a shortage of eggs in the market.

“The problem now is that local farmers are not producing enough eggs,” he told reporters after delivering his New Year’s message to the ministry’s staff in Putrajaya today.

Mohamad was commenting on Ayer Hitam MP Wee Ka Siong’s statement that the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry should prioritise local farmers instead of importing eggs from India to ease the chicken egg shortage.

Mohamad said the ministry is holding discussions with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, Economy Ministry and Finance Ministry as well as local egg producers on whether to continue or make changes to the subsidy mechanism to increase supply in the market.

According to Mohamad, Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali said at the cabinet members’ retreat programme yesterday that based on public views, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry received the “lowest rating’ in terms of performance following the shortage of chicken and egg supplies.

Mohamad also outlined five main directions for the ministry this year to make the national food security agenda a success.

They include empowering the aquaculture industry, expanding cattle feedlot farming and grain corn cultivation, increasing youths’ involvement in the agro-food sector and smart agriculture, and empowering agricultural training institutes to produce high-quality graduates. – Bernama, January 16, 2023.