The legislature's Finance Committee reviewed a post-epidemic special budget on March 8. However, legislators were more concerned with how the government is responding to Taiwan's critical water and egg shortages. Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung was asked if he will resign to take responsibility for the egg shortage.
“26th... 28th...Quickly be in line, you are the last one. There's no more for anyone after that.”Taiwan is facing a severe egg shortage, and some stores are resorting to counting the people in line based on their supplies and informing others to leave. The wholesale egg price is currently the highest it's ever been, and the supply is still unable to meet the demand. Agriculture Minister Chen Chi-chung's response on March 7 was to tell everyone to buy duck eggs instead. KMT legislators were disgusted by this attitude, while DPP legislators bluntly said the egg shortage would persist until April or May. Chen was asked if he will resign to take responsibility for the egg shortage.
Chen Chi-chung, Agriculture Minister: “I don't have any intention of giving up my post. As long as I'm here, I will absolutely do everything I can and do my best to help farmers and consumers. However, if I don't do a good job, then of course I will know when it's time to leave.”
The Council of Agriculture said it is importing eggs on a project basis in the short term to make up for market shortfalls. It is also strengthening avian influenza prevention and cure to relieve the egg shortage. Meanwhile, the central and southern regions are facing a severe drought. Tsengwen Reservoir was only filled to 17.1 percent of its capacity on March 8. The Ministry of Economic Affairs said it will send 136,000 tons of water a day to the south starting before the end of April.
Wang Mei-hua, Economic Affairs Minister: “We have enacted related water conservation measures. The Southern Taiwan Science Park has reduced its usage by 10 percent, while Hsinchu Science Park took the initiative to reduce its usage by 5 percent. I think everyone knows we have to conserve water so that we will be able to get through this drought.”
The MOEA said it isn't aware of any issues with industrial water usage but everyone should still conserve water.
雞蛋批發價漲史上最高，農委會主委陳吉仲昨（7）日一席「歡迎大家採購鴨蛋」的說法，引發藍營砲轟，有綠營立委也直言，缺蛋會持續到4、5月。8日陳吉仲被問及否對缺蛋負責，回應表示不會戀棧。
農委會主委陳吉仲表示：「個人的位置自己不會有任何的戀棧，只要在這個位置一天，我絕對會全力幫農業部門，幫消費者做到最好。但是如果沒有做好的，我當然會知道有所進退。」
農委會強調，短期專案進口蛋將補足市場缺口，同步強化禽流感防治，可望緩解缺蛋。此外，時序進入春天中南部統枯水期，南部曾文水庫8日上午蓄水率17.1%，持續探底。經濟部表示，會在4月底前每天調度13.6萬噸的水，讓南部使用。
經濟部長王美花指出：「已經進行相關的節水措施，南科已經節水10%，新竹是自主節水5%。我想大家都知道要節約用水，這樣才能夠在乾旱的期間度過。」
經濟部指出，目前掌握產業用水在使用上沒有問題，不過還是呼籲大家節約用水。