The IFA National Poultry Committee Chair Nigel Sweetnam expressed anger over the failure to implement egg producers’ demand for fair price.
“It is deeply disappointing and angering the delay and failure in passing back the 2 cents per egg that egg producers urgently need to sustain their businesses,” Nigel Sweetnam said.
“In October, protests were held by IFA members and egg producers, demanding that retailers pass back more money through the supply chain to farmers. While discount retailers have responded positively following the protests, the same cannot be said for some other retailers, who have failed to meet the producers’ demands,” he added.
Despite discussions on sustainability, farmer incomes, and security of egg supply, egg producers have only received an average of 0.7 cents per egg to date out of the 2 cents they need.
“This is unacceptable and threatens the livelihoods of egg producers across the country. In a rising global market its shameful that producers have to continue to work at a loss. We urge the remaining retailers and packers to take immediate action to remedy this situation and fulfil their responsibility to the farmers who supply their products,” Nigel Sweetnam said.
Prices of eggs on the supermarket shelf have gone up substantially in all retailers yet the portion received by farmers is abysmal.
Producers are requesting that: their initial ask of a full 2c per egg be returned to farm gate, and for payments to be made within 30days of collection of eggs from the farm.
“Farmers are not willing to wait any longer and are currently exploring export markets to sell their eggs where higher returns are being paid. It’s regrettable that Irish farmers should have to consider such actions given the short supply of egg within the Irish market but financially they are left with no alternative” he added.
“After what has become abundantly clear in the UK egg market and the shortage they face due to inaction, Irish farmers are not prepared to face the same outcome,” Nigel Sweetnam concluded.
