Egg production in the province of Sancti Spíritus has hit a critical low, with output halted for over a week as chickens went up to 12 days without feed. Aliesky Guevara Molina, head of the province's Poultry Company, attributed this crisis to a prolonged shortage of feed, which has severely impacted the health and weight of the chickens, although he denied it was the cause of the high egg prices in the market.
"For 12 days, the chickens were deprived of feed, which significantly impaired their productivity," Guevara told the Escambray newspaper. Although production is expected to resume between November 10 and 15, the company has struggled with ongoing feed supply disruptions throughout the year, leading to the culling of 45,000 to 50,000 chickens.
The Ongoing Food Crisis in Cuba
Feed shortages have been a persistent issue in Cuba, impacting not just poultry but also other sectors like pork production. In 2021, for instance, pig farming nearly vanished in provinces such as Las Tunas due to the lack of feed. Guevara explained, "We started the year with rice-based feed, but the conditions have fluctuated. There have been several occasions where the animals went days without food, directly affecting their health."
Since July, the distribution of 10 eggs per consumer has been repeatedly disrupted due to unstable supplies. Despite these challenges, Guevara clarified that the Poultry Company is not to blame for the scarcity in the black market, where cartons of 30 eggs are priced over 4,000 pesos.
Market Implications and Broader Challenges
"These eggs are from imports authorized for small businesses and are not part of our production," Guevara emphasized, defending the company by stating that the egg shortage in the market is not due to mismanagement but rather a broader systemic crisis within the country's food supply chain.