Plagued by so many different kinds of crises Thailand now has an egg crisis
By Jon Fernquest
An
egg crisis in Thailand has been simmering for weeks, ready to rear its
ugly head
(Read original
article). Decisive action to control skyrocketing egg prices was announced this week (See today's article below).
Of course, as with most government policies there are people who have found possible problems with this policy (Read critique in today's Bangkok Post).
plagued - to have
bad problems difficult to solve
simmering - to cook slowly at a temperature near boiling (here: situation near to being crisis situation)
rear its ugly head - when some unpleasant event happens
decisive - acting quickly and with confidence that you will be successful
skyrocketing - increasing very quickly (like a rocket flying into the sky)
critique - a careful examination and analysis that looks for problems
policy - a set of high level plans to achieve goals made by a government or other organization
simmering - to cook slowly at a temperature near boiling (here: situation near to being crisis situation)
rear its ugly head - when some unpleasant event happens
decisive - acting quickly and with confidence that you will be successful
skyrocketing - increasing very quickly (like a rocket flying into the sky)
critique - a careful examination and analysis that looks for problems
policy - a set of high level plans to achieve goals made by a government or other organization
Economics
FOOD
Ministry moves to cap skyrocketing egg prices
19/07/2010Phusadee Arunmas
The Commerce Ministry is planning to set recommended prices for layer chicks and pullets to help counter a shortage of eggs and skyrocketing prices, says Vatchari Vimooktayon, director-general of the Internal Trade Department.
The department also intends to re-examine the entire system of egg production, from layer chicks and breeders to animal feed and wholesaling of eggs, to ensure that eggs are sold to consumers at fair prices.
ministry
- a government department dealing with an area of activity กระทรวง
moves to - takes action to
cap - a limit (cannot go above this level, like a "cap" on a jar)
layer - a thin sheet of a substance; a level of material, such as a type of rock or gas, which is different from the material above or below it ชั้น
layer chick - chicken used to produce eggs
pullets - younger female chickens under one year old ("Females over a year old are known as hens, and younger females are pullets" from Wikipedia)
counter - to take action to oppose or stop something ต่อต้าน
shortage - when there is not enough of something การขาดแคลน
breeders - people who are raising animals to make more animals (animals have baby animals)
wholesaling - the buying and selling of goods in large quantities to businesses, not small customers as in retailing (See Wikipedia)
ensure - to make certain that something happens or is done รับรอง ให้ความมั่นใจ
consumers - people who buy things (individuals and families)
moves to - takes action to
cap - a limit (cannot go above this level, like a "cap" on a jar)
layer - a thin sheet of a substance; a level of material, such as a type of rock or gas, which is different from the material above or below it ชั้น
layer chick - chicken used to produce eggs
pullets - younger female chickens under one year old ("Females over a year old are known as hens, and younger females are pullets" from Wikipedia)
counter - to take action to oppose or stop something ต่อต้าน
shortage - when there is not enough of something การขาดแคลน
breeders - people who are raising animals to make more animals (animals have baby animals)
wholesaling - the buying and selling of goods in large quantities to businesses, not small customers as in retailing (See Wikipedia)
ensure - to make certain that something happens or is done รับรอง ให้ความมั่นใจ
consumers - people who buy things (individuals and families)
In case of excessive supply, the department would work more closely with manufacturers on production planning and relevant compensation measures.
Mrs Vatchari said the recommended price for layers should not exceed 25 baht per chick, with pullets not more than 120 to 130 baht each.
Currently, chicks are quoted at 30 baht each and pullets 155 baht.
excessive
- too much, much greater than usual มากเกินปริมาณที่พอดี
relevant - directly connected and important to what is being discussed or considered ที่เกี่ยวข้อง
compensation - money that someone receives because something bad has happened to them เงินชดเชย
measures - actions that are intended to achieve or deal with something มาตราการ
exceed - to be more than something; to go beyond a limit เกินกว่าที่กำหนด, เกินปริมาณ
relevant - directly connected and important to what is being discussed or considered ที่เกี่ยวข้อง
compensation - money that someone receives because something bad has happened to them เงินชดเชย
measures - actions that are intended to achieve or deal with something มาตราการ
exceed - to be more than something; to go beyond a limit เกินกว่าที่กำหนด, เกินปริมาณ
A shortage of eggs and skyrocketing prices have forced the government to allow more layer chickens to be imported, but importers need permission from the Livestock Development Department.
Additional steps to curb the escalating price of eggs could include allowing more competition in the industry.
permission
- allowing someone to do something การอนุญาต,การอนุมัติ,การยินยอม
livestock - animals such as cows or sheep raised for food, fiber or use as labour, not birds or poultry (See Wikipedia)
curb - to control or limit something that is harmful ระงับ, ควบคุม
escalating - increasing
livestock - animals such as cows or sheep raised for food, fiber or use as labour, not birds or poultry (See Wikipedia)
curb - to control or limit something that is harmful ระงับ, ควบคุม
escalating - increasing
Only nine major private firms are now allowed to import layer hens and roosters. They have a limit of 400,000 hens a year.
But on average only 360,000 hens were imported, exacerbating the egg shortage.
import
- to buy or bring in products from another country นำเข้า
hens - an adult female chicken
roosters - a male chicken (See Wikipedia)
limit - a highest or lowest amount possible
exacerbating - making worse
hens - an adult female chicken
roosters - a male chicken (See Wikipedia)
limit - a highest or lowest amount possible
exacerbating - making worse
The government has also asked companies to extend their parent stocks. New imported fowl stocks take about 10 months to produce eggs.
The government also will revamp the Egg Board as it has been unable to deal with supply and price stability and failed to manage imports properly for the past two years.
extend
- to include more ยืดออกไป ขยายออกไป
extend - to make a period of time longer ขยายออกไป
stocks - large amounts stored for future use
fowl - a bird that is kept on a farm for its eggs and meat สัตว์ปีกที่เลี้ยงไว้ใช้เป็นอาหารในครัวเรือน
revamp - to make a major change or revision to something ปรับปรุงใหม่
stability - does not move suddenly by large amounts (in an unpredictable and surprising way) ความมีเสถียรภาพ ความมั่นคง
stability - not changing suddenly and unpredictably ความมั่นคง
extend - to make a period of time longer ขยายออกไป
stocks - large amounts stored for future use
fowl - a bird that is kept on a farm for its eggs and meat สัตว์ปีกที่เลี้ยงไว้ใช้เป็นอาหารในครัวเรือน
revamp - to make a major change or revision to something ปรับปรุงใหม่
stability - does not move suddenly by large amounts (in an unpredictable and surprising way) ความมีเสถียรภาพ ความมั่นคง
stability - not changing suddenly and unpredictably ความมั่นคง
However, Mrs Vatchari said the current shortage was largely due to the hot weather that reduced layers' productivity, higher prices of animal feeds and rising demand because of political rallies.
The department now recommends the retail prices of No. 0 (the largest size), No. 1 and No. 2 eggs at 3.60, 3.40 and 3.30 baht each respectively.
current
- of the present time ปัจจุบัน
productivity - producing more with the same amount of inputs (labour, energy, etc)
productivity - the speed at which a worker, company, or country produces goods (some are faster than others)
demand - the need and desire to buy goods and services by households and businesses
retail - to sell directly to the public for their own use ขายปลีก
productivity - producing more with the same amount of inputs (labour, energy, etc)
productivity - the speed at which a worker, company, or country produces goods (some are faster than others)
demand - the need and desire to buy goods and services by households and businesses
retail - to sell directly to the public for their own use ขายปลีก
(Source: Economics, FOOD, Ministry moves to cap skyrocketing egg prices, 19/07/2010, Phusadee Arunmas, link)
