Rising egg prices burn holes in consumers’ pockets
The egg, regarded as a rich but affordable source of protein, has turned expensive with retail price of a regular white egg hovering between ₹8
The egg, regarded as a rich but affordable source of protein, has turned expensive with retail price of a regular white egg hovering between ₹8 and ₹8.50 in Bengaluru market. Apart from seasonal and weather factors, the ups and downs caused by the West Asia crisis appear to have hit the egg prices. According to the data of the Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), on Sunday, the price of each egg in the wholesale market in Bengaluru was ₹7, a tray of 30 eggs was ₹210, bulk pack (100 eggs) ₹700, and a peti costs around ₹1,197. In retail market it was at least a rupee higher per piece. Earlier under ₹7 “The price of eggs has been on the rise in the last three to four months. The price per egg, which was a month ago ₹6.50 to ₹7 in retail shops, has now reached ₹8.50 and beyond. Earlier, I used to buy a tray of eggs a week, but now I buy only as much as I need,” said Ranjitha, a housewife, Bengaluru. The West Asia war is said to be the main reason for the impact on egg prices, which fell sharply in March and April due to the suspension of egg exports to Iran.
Due to this uncertainty, the poultry industry had also reduced the number of chickens in farms. “We used to keep around 10,000 chickens in our farm. However, due to the fall in egg prices in March and April, the number of chickens was reduced. Currently, there are 3,000 chickens, producing about 2,500 eggs per day. Besides, egg yields are low every summer,” said Dhananjaya, poultry farm owner, Kolar district. High transport charges are another major reason for the increase in egg prices, said T. Venkateswaralu, Bengaluru zonal chairman, NECC. “Around 1.80 crore eggs are produced in Karnataka every day. Out of this, 90 lakh to 1 crore eggs are consumed in Bengaluru alone. We buy eggs from the producers at a price of ₹6.50 to ₹6.60 per egg. In retail, the price varies from place to place. However, due to the increase in the price of petrol and diesel in the wake of the West Asia crisis, transport charges have increased. Due to this, the price of all commodities has increased, which is the main reason for the increase in the price of eggs,” he said.
Feed rate hike “Due to severe rain deficiency, there is a drought situation across the State this year. The feed rate has also increased significantly due to the increase in the price of agricultural products. If the drought continues like this, the price of eggs may increase further. However, the price is expected to come down by October and November,” Mr. Venkateswaralu added. Mid-day meals in schools, anganwadis impacted The rising egg prices have also hit government and government-aided schools and anganwadis in Karnataka. The State government is distributing eggs and bananas as supplementary nutrition along with mid-day meal to students from LKG to class 10. The government has instructed to distribute eggs of good quality, weighing 50 gms, to school and anganwadi children, and is providing a unit cost of ₹6 per egg. Of this, ₹5 has been allocated for the purchase of eggs. Remaining is counted for transport and cooking cost. Most of the anganwadis and schools are purchasing eggs from the retail market, and the unit cost of each egg is currently about ₹8.50.
The BriefWire