WHEN prices of most of the daily essential items like vegetable and pulses are rising, the opposite is happening with egg prices which seem to be dropping in the wholesale market.

The egg prices have declined at Rs 3.65 per piece as compared to Rs 4 per piece about 10 days ago in the wholesale market. Currently the month of Shravan is underway and as a tradition a lot of people avoid eating eggs during this time.

“As of now the egg prices have declined due to lower demand in the market. It is expected that the egg prices could go up to Rs 4 per piece in the wholesale market after Raksha Bandhan (August 11). In retail, eggs are available at Rs 5 per piece,” said Moiz Burhani of Vidarbha Eggs, Mahatma Phule Wholesale Market while speaking to

The Hitavada. The current consumption of eggs has dropped to about 8 lakh to 9 lakh per day. The average per day consumption of eggs is about 10 lakh to 12 lakh per day in the city. It is expected that the consumption would reach a level of 14 lakh to 15 lakh eggs per day during the winter season, he said.

On a daily average about 15 lakh to 16 lakh eggs are unloaded in the wholesale market. About 10 lakh to 12 lakh eggs are consumed within the city itself while the remaining eggs are sent to nearby locations like Katol, Kuhi, Umrer, Bhandara, Wardha and Chandrapur. The wholesale egg market caters not only Nagpur district but also Chhindwara, Saoner and other towns, he pointed out.

The poultry farmers are suffering heavy losses from the past month as they are selling eggs at lower than production cost. Poultry farmers have to sell their eggs above Rs 4.20 per piece to make a profit. The cost of bird feed which mainly consists of maize and soyabean has steeply shot up more than three fold. Since, eggs are a perishable commodity it has to be consumed within 10 to 12 days. Poultry farmers make a profit when the prices of eggs rise, Burhani further added.