Egg prices soar across Karnataka as supply falls

MYSURU: After vegetables, it’s now eggs that will burn a hole in your pocket. The retail price of a single egg has increased from Rs 5 last week to Rs 6 this week, while the price for 100 eggs in the wholesale market recovered from Rs 320.9 in March to anywhere between Rs 500 -Rs 520 this week.
According to the National Egg Coordination committee data, the wholesale market rate of eggs came down to Rs 235 for 100 eggs in March last week, but now it has touched highest ever price in 2020.

According to the data, eggs are costlier in Mysuru compared to its biggest market of the state — Bengaluru. The average rate for 100 eggs in wholesale market this month in the state capital stands at Rs 477.9.
Speaking to TOI, NECC sales promotion officer V Sesha Narayana said the spike in rates is due to the dip in production following culling of chickens in April over bird flu scare.
“Compared to Wednesday, the egg rate has come down by Rs 20 for 100 eggs in the market,” he added.
Vetphage Pharmaceuticals director (sales, Asia Pacific) and board member Dr Ramdas Kambale said, “Now that the service sector is getting back on its feet and consumption habits are starting to return to normal, market prices are being restored. However, it is still going to take some time for farmers to make up for the losses incurred during the initial phases of lockdown. Since poultry is a low margin commodity, it will take about 10 production cycles to recover from the losses, which are upwards of Rs 20,000 crore.”
“Producers should make it a point to follow proper feed and water hygiene. They should also implement strict internal and external biosecurity measures to avoid the transmission of pathogens,” he added.