Interim President Min Aung Hlaing Boasts of Expanding Livestock Zones, But Import Restrictions Lead to Shortages of Feed and Medicine, Causing Chicken and Egg Prices to Soar

To boost production from livestock businesses for food security and expand livestock zones, Interim President Min Aung Hlaing has been frequently making boastful statements. However, due to the central bank's dollar control and flawed import restriction policies, animal medicine and feed raw materials are scarce on the ground, and chicken and egg prices have risen exorbitantly in recent days, it is learned. In the local markets of Yangon city, starting from Monday this week, the price of CP chicken meat for consumption has increased from the previous 2,300 kyats per 10 ticals (approximately 15 kg) to 3,000 kyats (30,000 kyats per 15 kg). Furthermore, the price of chicken eggs has risen to a record high, from around 360 kyats per egg to 600-700 kyats. Although the interim government claims to sell at affordable prices through municipal vehicles and some shopping centers, it has been learned from Yangon residents that people have no means to purchase and consume them on the ground. "To ensure adequate nutrition for breakfast, I normally eat about 20 eggs a week for my family of three. I don't see the municipal cars selling in the market anymore. When I go to the centers, the eggs are already sold out by the time I arrive. I have to buy them from outside shops, and now I have to pay up to 700 kyats per egg," a housewife from San Chaung Township told the Ayeyarwaddy Times. Interim President Min Aung Hlaing frequently states the need to increase livestock production to stabilize meat, fish, and egg prices, and to promote national prosperity and food security. He has instructed the expansion of livestock businesses, citing an example that if 3.5 million out of Yangon's 7 million population consume one egg per day, approximately 4 million chickens need to be raised. However, on the ground, due to the interim government's import restriction policies and licensing limitations, livestock farmers are unable to obtain feed and medicine, and their businesses are collapsing. According to the 2020 statistics from the Myanmar Livestock Federation, foreign investment companies produce 76% of the current broiler and layer chicken production, while Myanmar nationals produce 24%. Foreign-owned companies produce more broiler meat and eggs. According to the 2020 statistics from the Myanmar Livestock Federation, chicken breeds are imported from the United States, Malaysia, Indonesia, Belgium, and France. There are 10 companies owned by Myanmar nationals and seven companies owned by foreigners, with a total of 144 breeding farms and 18 hatcheries. According to statements from the Myanmar Livestock Federation (MLF), while foreign companies previously produced 76% and domestic entrepreneurs 24%, currently, most small and medium-sized domestic livestock farmers have had to suspend or close their businesses due to lack of capital and inability to bear expenses. Therefore, it is learned that over 85% of the chicken meat and eggs currently consumed domestically rely on the contract system of foreign companies, including Thailand-based CP, and major foreign companies based in China, South Korea, and Indonesia. "Although livestock development is instructed verbally, breeding eggs, chicks, chicken feed, and medicines must be imported from abroad. Since imports are restricted, nothing can be done. Raw material shortages lead to price increases. This is the actual economic situation on the ground caused by Min Aung Hlaing's policy errors," said a domestic livestock entrepreneur. Photo – Ayeyarwaddy Times, Social Media The post Interim President Min Aung Hlaing Boasts of Expanding Livestock Zones, But Import Restrictions Lead to Shortages of Feed and Medicine, Causing Chicken and Egg Prices to Soar appeared first on Ayeyarwaddy Times.