Egg procurement price starts to increase in Namakkal

With the ending of Tamil month Purattasi, the procurement price of eggs has begun to increase in Namakkal.

Popularly known as Egg Town, Namakkal houses over 1,600 poultry farms and produces more than 6-7 crore eggs per day. These eggs are sent to various parts of the State and to Keralam, Karnataka, and Puducherry. The eggs are also exported to a few countries. Namakkal also supplies eggs to government and aided schools for the noon meal scheme.

The National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) Namakkal zone fixes the price daily based on production and demand.

In July this year, the egg procurement price touched the all-time high of ₹6.80 per egg. In retail, the price touched ₹8. But the price fell and stayed between ₹5.40 and ₹6 due to weak demand in view of temple festivals in the Tamil month of Aadi and the commencement of Sawan month in north Indian States.

Demand stayed tepid in September, too, due to the commencement of the Tamil month Purattasi and the procurement price remained at ₹5.40 in Namakkal.

With the ending of Puttrasi, however, demand for eggs has started to increase, and the procurement price of eggs rose by 30 paise in the past one week. The current procurement price is fixed at ₹5.70.

Poultry owners in Namakkal said demand for eggs rose in Tamil Nadu as rain has begun, adding that the price will not fall in the coming days owing to the upcoming Deepavali celebrations.

Chairman of the Tamil Nadu Egg Poultry Farmers Marketing Society Vangli Subramaniam said that Namakkal currently exports only 20% of eggs.

He pointed out that production cost of eggs has touched ₹6 due to a rise in feed costs and other expenses. As such, poultry units are currently running at a loss. Only after the procurement price crosses ₹6 can the units become profitable, Mr. Subramaniam added.