The imported eggs from India will reach the country by the end of this week. It was supposed to reach the country by Monday this week. The Agriculture Minister said the slight delay is due to lockdown imposed not only in the country but also in West Bengal. The country faced a shortage of eggs since December last year after many poultry birds died of supposedly contaminated feeds.
From fruits to groceries and vegetables, shops in Thimphu have everything but eggs.
Earlier this month, the Agriculture Ministry issued a notification to import eggs as an interim measure. It was following the decrease in egg production.
The daily egg production decreased by 68 per cent. From more than 380,000 eggs a day, farms in the country started producing only about 120,000 eggs a day.
Considering the shortage, 3,000 cartons of eggs from India were supposed to reach the country by now.
The Agriculture Minister said BAFRA couldn’t find good quality eggs across the border after testing egg samples.
“And after confirming good quality eggs, we arranged for import of eggs. But unfortunately, there is lockdown across the border especially in West Bengal and not just here within the country. There had been so many covid response management checkpoints and things. So that obstructed in the transportation of the eggs.”
But the minister said poultry birds in the country are becoming healthier again. More than 1,500 cartons of local eggs were distributed in the market last week.
The Agriculture Minister said birds in Sarpang and Paro poultry farms have started laying eggs.
“Just yesterday, we managed to transport around one jumbo truck of eggs from Sarpang to Thimphu. So that way, it’s quite encouraging we may not have to import eggs anymore. Once we have 3,000 cartons of imported eggs, then we have to see if we need to import again.”
A tray of imported eggs will cost between Nu 295 to 305.
Samten Dolkar
