KOTA KINABALU: Sandakan folks need not worry about a shortage of chicken eggs as the supply has been boosted recently after an additional supplier was found, said the Sabah Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP).

       Its enforcement section said this was following complaints earlier this month of shortage in that district, which they discovered was due to eggs being bought in massive numbers as part of the food basket assistance.

       At present, the combined eggs supply available in the market was 246,000 eggs daily.

       "Sabah KPDNHEP office together with Sabah Veterinary Services have conducted an integrated operation to identify the source of the problem and therefore ensure the market demand can be catered for.

       "For Sandakan, egg supplies were initially from two farms. One on average produces 120,000 eggs per day while the other produces 30,000 eggs, bringing the combined figure to 150,000 for distribution around Sandakan as well as the surrounding areas.

       “We recently added another farm in Tawau as a supplier, so now the total egg supply for Sandakan reaches 246,000 eggs per day," the enforcement section said in the statement.

       It added that the authorities would continue to take proactive steps to ensure supply remains sufficient.

       This included appointing nine ‘benchmark’ groceries supplied with 3,000 eggs (100 trays) per day, and continued monitoring at supplier farms.