Egg farmers in Tamil Nadu are worried about the loss on egg prices — 50 paisa to Re.1 — they are incurring every day.
For the past month, egg prices have been very low and have touched the lowest — Rs. 2.25 — in two years. The high cost of production is the reason for this, say farmers, who want feed at subsidised prices to tide over the current situation.
“Corn, soya and dry fish are used in chicken feed. Only 50 per cent of the corn is available in the State and the rest has to come from Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh,” said R. Nallathambi, president of Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers Association. The feed has been given at subsidised prices only twice, since 2000, he said.
There are manifold reasons for the low rates, said Mohan Reddy, National Egg Coordination Committee–Chennai.
“Bird flu scare, reduction in consumption and other States having their own production centres are contributing to this. Egg prices had gone up very marginally last week,” he said. Farmers spend Rs. 3.25 per egg and are selling it at Re.1 lesser.
Summer has only worsened the problems of the industry. Lack of water and workers too is cause for worry, said farmers.
“We don’t send eggs to Punjab and Haryana since their demand is met locally. Export to Arabian countries has also stopped since they get eggs at lower prices from France and Switzerland. Here, high cost of raw materials makes sustainability difficult. One way out is to reduce chicken production,” he said.
