Monique Hepburn, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
JAMAICA'S EGG farmers have penetrated the Caribbean market and are now exporting eggs to Trinidad and Tobago. In addition, they are also eyeing the cruise ship industry.So far, they have sold some 104,000 dozen eggs to the twin island republic.
"The farmers are doing well and there is potential for much more growth," said Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke, as he congratulated the local egg producers on the what is considered a major breakthrough. "I believe their successes reflects the growth that is taking place in the agricultural sector in general."
Mark Campbell, president of the Jamaica Egg Farmers Association (JEFA) said Wed-nesday that the Ministry of Agriculture has been integral in their success so far.
"We are currently seeking new markets for our eggs in the Cayman Islands, Antigua, St. Lucia and possibly Barbados," he said.
BREAK INTO THAT MARKET
"We have submitted a proposal to the cruise shipping lines as we want to also break into that market."
However, Mr. Campbell argued that while he is pleased with the association's successes abroad, he believes that the low consumption of eggs locally needs to be addressed.
"Egg farmers had organised five years ago to increase our presence in the marketplace but on average Jamaicans consume fewer than two eggs per week," said the JEFA president, who linked the trend to information that had come out of the United States linking eggs to cholesterol problems.
"We want to see a reversal
in this trend as eggs are quite healthy. Other Caribbean
countries have recognised this and consume eggs in greater quantities than Jamaica," Mr. Campbell asserted. And egg consumption in the US is about three times Jamaica's. "They consume on average 6-7 eggs per person," said Mr. Campbell.
JEFA is also reporting that because of the glut that arises from the low consumption here, egg prices have remained stable over the last six years while production costs have increased substantially.
