ALMOST every commodity is in the grip of inflation and the egg is no exception. The egg prices after hitting a low of Rs 3 per piece about 10 days ago are now being quoted at Rs 3.80 per piece in the wholesale market, a steep jump of 80 paise. In retail, it is being sold for Rs 5 per piece. The demand for eggs is steadily increasing which is reflected in the upward movement of its price.

“Currently the demand for eggs is growing at a rapid pace. It is expected that the egg prices could touch Rs 4.50 per piece in the first week of June in wholesale market. In retail, it could touch Rs 5 to Rs 5.5 per piece,” said Moiz Burhani of Vidarbha Eggs, Mahatma Phule Wholesale Market while speaking to The Hitavada.

On an average about 5 lakh to 6 lakh eggs per day were consumed in the city in the month of April. Now the consumption has steadily increased to about 8 lakh to 9 lakh eggs in May. It is expected that the consumption would reach a level of 14 lakh to 15 lakh eggs per day when the temperature drops, he said.

Talking about the drop in egg prices to a low of Rs 3 per piece, he said that it is attributed to oversupply in the market.

According to him, the egg production in the country is approximately 25 crore eggs per day as compared to the consumption of 20 crore per day, leading to a surplus of 5 crore eggs. When the COVID-19 pandemic gripped the country during the past two years, doctors prescribed eggs to boost the immunity power of a person to fight any virus.

At that time the egg consumption was at record high levels and so were the prices. Last year in the month of May the egg prices were at Rs 4.80 per piece in wholesale market and in retail were at Rs 5.50 to Rs 6 per piece, Burhani said.

This prompted many people to start poultry farms in northern States of the country like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. Majority of the poultry farms are located in Andhra Pradesh which supplies eggs to the entire country.

Currently, the fear of COVID-19 has receded but the health conscious people are taking measures and consuming eggs in an attempt to keep their immunity strong as eggs are rich in proteins and vitamins, he pointed out.

Since one month the farmers and poultry farms are suffering heavy losses as the prices of eggs has gone below production cost of Rs 4 per piece. Eggs are a perishable commodity and has to be consumed within 10 to 12 days, he further said.

The eggs are a favourite among the working class as it more affordable as compared to vegetables. A variety of dishes can be prepared easily using small quantity oil and spices, Burhani added.