Chitwan, December 18
The price of eggs, which are being sold at a much lower price than the cost price, has started to increase. After increasing demand in the market, the market price of 30 eggs (one crate) has been fixed at Rs 360 from Saturday.
The meeting of the Nepal Egg Producers’ Association decided on the selling price, on Saturday.
Prior to this, the price of eggs was Rs 300 per crate. According to Binod Pokhrel, president of the association, the current cost price is Rs 435 per crate.
‘Five years ago, when the price of grain was Rs 30 per kg, eggs were sold for Rs 300 per crate. At present, the price of eggs is the same when the price of grain is Rs 65 per kg,” says Pokharel.
He says that the prices of medicines and other variable costs have also doubled. The price of eggs over the past year had continued to go down. But now, with costs going high, Pokharel says there was no option but to increase the price of eggs.
“The farmers are suffering due to this,” he said.
Pokhrel said that farmers can survive even if they can get up to the cost price. Currently, 4 million eggs are being produced in Nepal every day.
Egg producers say the demand for eggs will double if the government can explain the importance of eggs on health. They also argue that the farmers’ interest should be put first and put an end to the intermediaries who rep the benefits.
“If the government does not pay attention, the self-sustaining poultry business will collapse,” says Pokharel.
The private sector has invested more than one billion rupees in the poultry business only for egg production.
