Now, eggs crack the price barrier

Hyderabad: Egg prices in the city have reached an all-time high with an egg costing up to Rs 5 in the retail market, and a dozen eggs being sold for between Rs 50 and Rs 60. An egg cost Rs 3 till a week ago.

For non-vegetarians, egg is the only affordable item as the price of chicken, mutton, and fish is way beyond most pockets. The price of chicken and mutton had fallen because of lower demand in the holy month of Karthika masam, but is climbing sharply again.

For many middle and lower middle class people, who enjoyed eggs or other non-vegetarian items on Sundays, the weekend treat is now out of bounds.

The price fixed by the National Egg Coordination Committee (NEEC) for city markets was Rs 389 for 100 eggs on Monday. In Vizag, the price was fixed even higher, at Rs 396.

Poultry dealers say this is the highest price fixed so far in recent years. “Normally, 7 to 8 crore eggs are produced every day in the state. About 60 per cent is consumed in the state, while the remaining 40 per cent is exported to other states.

Egg production has been adversely affected on account of successive cyclones and heavy rains for the last three to four months in the state.

With this, the gap between demand and supply has widened, leading to escalation in prices. The high prices are expected to continue till January 2014,” said D. Vivekavardhan, a representative of the Andhra Pradesh  Poultry Federation.

The price of chicken is also on an upward trend for the last 15 days. Last Sunday, the price of chicken (dressed) was Rs 84 per kg. It has shot up to Rs 130 this Sunday.