Chen Jizhong, chairman of the Council of Agriculture.

(Photo by reporter Xie Junlin)

[Reporter Xie Junlin/Taipei Report] With regard to the current situation of Taiwan's laying hen industry, civil society groups have questioned the Council of Agriculture's subsidy for "lattice cages" (upright cages or A-frame cages) is a wrong investment and runs counter to the world trend.

Chen Jizhong, chairman of the Council of Agriculture, said today (15th) that the eggs must be satisfied first, and then the quality should be pursued. If all go in this direction, the egg production may be even more insufficient.

"We will respect farmers, and we will respect the needs of markets, consumers and access."

In response to the government's strategy to solve the egg shortage, the Taiwan Animal Society Research Association held a press conference with Lin Shufen, a legislator of the Democratic Progressive Party, calling on the Executive Yuan to face up to the systemic problems of the backwardness of Taiwan's laying hen industry, and questioned the Council of Agriculture's investment of 1.05 billion yuan in poultry houses. Reconstruction and subsidy projects still include grid cages, which have a service life of at least 10 years, completely ignoring the global trend of abolishing grid cages, which is tantamount to taking the lead in encouraging farmers to make wrong investments.

Please read on...

In this regard, Chen Jizhong received a joint interview with the media after the Judiciary and Legal Affairs Committee of the Legislative Yuan concluded his report and question-and-answer today. Regarding the media’s question, "The militia questioned that "lattice cages" were wrong investments?" Chen Jizhong emphasized that the eggs must be satisfied first, and then In addition to quality, there must be quantity. Now the quality is also improving. At present, many channels are also selling welfare eggs. This part is also one of the channels for multi-variety eggs.

Chen Jizhong said that if such a breeding method cannot be adopted at this stage, the amount of eggs may be even less.

"When we seek quantity, we also seek to improve quality. We will respect farmers, as well as the needs of the market, consumers and distribution channels. We are now in the process."