By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, June 5: Local kek lapis Sarawak (Sarawak layer cake) makers in the Northern Region are worried that the current egg shortage could leave the industry in the lurch.
Since March this year, uncertainties in egg supplies have seen entrepreneurs in the industry and other baking-related sectors struggling.
“Nowadays, it is very difficult for us to find 100 trays of eggs, because normally in making kek lapis, we use 250 to 300 trays a week,” said kek lapis Sarawak maker Juliana Abu Bakar who operates in Miri.
Fellow entrepreneur Roslina Tapah from Limbang also echoed similar concerns.
“The price of eggs at the beginning of this year was between RM11.90 (per tray) but now has skyrocketed to RM15 (per tray) for grade A and up to RM22/tray in rural areas or Limbang and Lawas. This situation has raised production costs,” she explained.
Another kek lapis Sarawak entrepreneur from Miri, Suriani Yaacob proposed the government provide poultry farmers a subsidy so as to keep the ceiling price to a reasonable rate.
She added, the government also should consider halting the export of chicken eggs to address the shortage in the country.
“Domestic consumption should be given priority over the export market,” she said.
In the mean time, she added, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) should also work together with the federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (Mafi) and Sarawak’s Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Customary Lands and Regional Development (Manred) to promote food production including poultry production. — DayakDaily
