With increase in demand across the country, the wholesale price of egg was fixed at Rs. 4.11 here on Monday. This is the new record high price fixed by National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), Namakkal Zone, than the previous high price of Rs. 4.03 prevailed from November 25, 2013 to December 7, 2013.
There are 30 NECC zones in the country that fixes price of eggs for wholesale distribution across the country.
For Tamil Nadu (except Chennai), wholesale price of egg is fixed by NECC, Namakkal Zone, on every Monday, Thursday and Saturday. About 3.09 crore eggs are produced in the zone everyday and is supplied for noon-meal scheme, retail sales in the country and for exports. On Monday, the price of egg was fixed at Rs. 4.11 which is an increase of nine paise from the earlier price fixed on June 13. Officials said that the average wholesale price of egg in the current year was Rs. 3.18 in January, Rs. 2.72 in February, Rs. 2.61 in March and April and Rs. 3.13 in May and Rs. 3.71 in June till date. Also, Rs. 4.11 fixed on Monday is the second highest price fixed in the country only next to Chitoor production centre at Rs. 4.13.
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Officials said that intense heat wave in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana last month led to the death of lakhs of poultries resulting in drop in production up to 20 per cent. They said that price of eggs would be on the rise at least for another one month.
P. Selvaraj, chairman, NECC, Namakkal Zone, said that traders’ cold storage stock is nearing completion and the demand for fresh eggs to run their business in North India is on the rise. Also, the 47-day ban on fishing along the Kerala coast that came into effect from midnight of June 14 is all set to increase the demand for eggs in the coming days. “Farmers need not panic as huge production drop in Andhra Pradesh and the fishing ban will improve the price of eggs”, he added.