One of the main components in the Passover bowl (Photo: Giphy)
Pesach is the holiday of eggs and chicken.
They star not only in the Seder bowl and dipping in the salt bowl during the reading of the Haggadah, but also in the foods that are served at the table.
This year, as every year, a shortage of eggs and chicken is expected, only this time the reason for the shortage is different and the preparation for it has failed.
According to sources in the Ministry of Agriculture, since a correct assessment of the shortage of eggs was not made, the amount of quotas opened for import will probably not meet the growing need.
And what's more: since there is no import of chicken to Israel, its price, which has already risen this week by about 20%, will continue to become more expensive ahead of the holiday.
In the last year, the incidence of salmonella in poultry increased, many laying eggs were destroyed and the eggs they laid, in order to maintain public health, which resulted in a reduction in the number of laying eggs.
The increased poultry disease broke out, among other things, due to problematic rearing conditions, outdated, crowded and unhygienic coops, which the previous Minister of Agriculture, Oded Forer, tried to change through the reform of the laying industry - in vain.
Because of the damage to the number of laying eggs, the import of chicks to Israel was considered, an unusual move, which was not carried out in the end and could have alleviated the shortage.
In mid-June 2022, an agreement was signed between the poultry breeders and the layers and the Ministry of Agriculture, according to which the breeders will support the transition to coops without cages, the laying industry will be upgraded to the extent of 760 million shekels, the duty on egg imports will be immediately reduced by 50%, and a transition to a professional price update, the reason why price The eggs rose at the beginning of the month.
The same sources claim that, had the Ministry of Agriculture and Finance been prepared in advance, the great shortage and rising prices could have been prevented.
Oded Forer, former Minister of Agriculture.
Tried to reform the poultry industry (Photo: Reuven Castro)
Ministry of Agriculture: There is no shortage of poultry
The Ministry of Agriculture rejects the claims and states in response
: "There is no shortage of poultry. On the contrary: according to the available data, there is a constant increase in the marketing of broiler chicks. In 2022, more broilers were raised and marketed than in 2021, so also in January 2023, more broilers were raised and marketed compared to the corresponding period. Towards Passover There has been an increase in the number of chicks that are housed and marketed during the holiday compared to the same period last year.
"The Ministry of Agriculture has opened quotas for the import of eggs with duty exemption for authorized marketers from countries from which the Ministry has approved imports, in order to increase the supply of eggs and meet the growing demand for Passover.
The opening of imports at this time will allow importers to organize themselves, so that they can import eggs in preparation for the increase in demand for the holiday, as every year.
In general, the State of Israel produces for itself the vast majority of the eggs consumed in Israel, amounting to 2.2 billion eggs per year, but in the run-up to Passover, as well as the Tishrei holidays, the demand for eggs increases.
This year, too, the ministry approved the import of 40 million eggs duty-free, which will exceed local production as every year, certainly in light of their global price, which has risen significantly in recent months.
Of money
news
Tags
eggs
poultry
Ministry of Agriculture
Passover