South Korea has been struck with a detrimental disease called Bird Flu, otherwise known as the Avian Influenza. Apart from affecting health, the disease is also starting to cause an egg shortage and major changes in their food market.
Korea's total poultry population of 163.9 million birds was decreased by 12.2. percent as the chickens were culled to control the outbreak. Unfortunately, most of the birds that were killed are egg-laying hens. This then puts South Korea in a tough position as all its residents make adjustments to make ends meet.
Business Insider reports that the average retail price for 30 pieces of eggs has climbed up to almost 25 percent since the outbreak started. The price hike is affecting a lot of business owners as they are left with no choice but to remove most of the meals that has egg as an ingredient.
As for store owners, they are currently limiting the amount of egg that is available for customer purchase. They limit the amount of egg trays that a person can buy to address the existing problem. South Korea's agriculture ministry is currently looking for import egg-laying chickens and eggs that are from New Zealand, Spain and United States.
News Hub then reports that the outbreak has given New Zealand a good market for their brown-shelled eggs. A challenge for Rob Darby, an egg farmer from New Zealand is to think of an effective way to transport these fresh products to South Korea and around the world.
Since hens cannot be pressed on time to produce eggs, New Zealand tells South Korea and other countries that all the exports will just be limited to whatever is excess of their supply. The egg shortage is estimated to last for six months to a year because South Korea is currently raising chickens that is free of Bird Flu.
