Egg price increased, still short of production cost

Chitwan–The price of egg has been increased. A crate of big egg now costs Rs 280. Its price was Rs 200 before this. Similarly, the price of small egg has gone up from Rs 115 per crate to Rs 230 per crate.

Although the egg price has been increased, the poultry farmers say they have not yet got their operation cost. Trilochan Kandel, central president of Nepal Egg Producers Association, the farmer's overhead cost of eggs is Rs 10 per egg.

However, the cost of egg comes to be Rs 8.50 per unit even after adjusting the increased price. According to him, about four million eggs are produced on a daily basis at present.

The production had reached 5.5 million at one time but it has been gradually declining. Many poultry farmers have sold their layers as the production cost was low.

The production might have also decreased due to the intense heat. Kandel said lately farmers have also stopped producing chicks which is also expected to result in decreasing egg production.

Association's central secretary Madan Pokharel said egg price is estimated to gradually increase in the coming days since the supply is not enough to meet the demand.

The price of egg had increased to Rs 360 per crate. But according to farmers the egg price has decreased since the last one year to the extent it is difficult for them to even meet the cost of production.

Pokharel said seven thousand farmers are involved in poultry farming. More than150 thousand people are directly employed in poultry.