Filipino producers hope to increase egg consumption

Egg producers in the Philippines have planned a marketing campaign to raise the country's per capita egg consumption, according to Business World.

Gregorio A. San Diego Jr., president of the National Federation of Egg Producers of the Philippines, was quoted saying that the per capita egg consumption in the Philippines is much lower than in the U.S., Thailand and Malaysia. Due to its high retail price and the consumers' concern over cholesterol content, eggs are not popular.

To right the situation, the Philippines Egg Board will launch a campaign to promote eggs, funds for which will be raised by collecting five to 10 centavos for every layer sold to local farmers. The board would have about $108,000 (5.1 million pesos) even if it collected 5 centavos per layer sold to farmers.

Egg production in the Philippines, which made up 2.39% of total agriculture output, increased by 4.67% to 350,770 metric tons last year from 335,110 metric tons in 2007, according to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics.