"THERE IS tremendous potential for the advancement of the egg industry in Jamaica because of the wide range of expertise among egg farmers here. At present, they are the producers, processors and marketers of their own eggs, but the time has come for a structured marketing arm to promote the industry as a whole." So said Norman Williams, General Manager of Jamaica Egg Services, a subsidiary of Jamaica Broilers. He was giving an overview on the table egg industry in Jamaica on Wednesday, July 24, at a Marketing and Production Seminar organised by the Egg Industry Development Comm-ittee of the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel.
According to Mr. Williams, the opportunities for developing the egg industry abounded with the potential for increased production and the introduction of new by products, such as liquid eggs which could be sold in large quantities to niche markets to restaurants, bakeries and hotels. In addition, the industry was at an advantage in that there was low incidence of food borne disease; easily available scientifically formulated feeds and adequate vet and lab support. On the other hand, the industry was hampered by low levels of organisation and marketing management; poor production and inadequate record keeping; limited cold storage; low levels of automation; unstable price structure as well as under-utilised hen house capacity.
Mr. Williams said egg production in Jamaica has been trending downwards, following a significant growth in the industry last year. At the present time, each Jamaican eats less than one egg per week during the months leading up to Christmas, at which time consumption of eggs rises significantly.
He noted that the decrease in egg consumption among Jamaicans was triggered by a scare in the United States years ago about the cholesterol content of eggs. And he said that although recent information released from the American Heart Association suggested that eating two to three eggs per week was not harmful, that information was yet to reach the Jamaican public. In fact, Mr. Williams said consumers worldwide have again begun to recognise eggs as a nutritious, healthy fast food and this has resulted in a significant increase in the sales of eggs in those markets. Therefore, he identified the need for egg farmers to launch a marketing campaign to show the Jamaican consumers the benefits of eggs.
In reviewing the fluctuating egg industry in Jamaica over the past four years. Mr. Williams said egg farmers on the island experienced its worst year in 1998, when, although production levels were high, the importation of 100,000 dozen eggs that year forced a number of farmers out of business. And although the following year saw a reduction in egg importation to the island, there was negative growth from 1999 until 2000.
Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke was the main speaker at the one-day seminar, while presentations were made by Dr. Paul Patterson, Associate Professor in poultry science at the Penn State University, who looked at the key elements of egg production and handling affecting egg quality, as well as Johannes Lippitz, representative for Central and South America and the Caribbean for Ovotherm, of Austria, the world's largest producer of packaging and merchandising solutions for eggs. President of the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association Ian Banks, chaired the seminar.
