Mumbai: Prolonged winter is causing shortage of eggs, leading to price rise, say industry experts

The average rate of a dozen eggs was Rs 66 until mid-November. Representation pic

Eggs have become costlier in the city, thanks to shortage in supply, which has been attributed to prolonged winter season when the yield decreases. According to the experts in the industry, Mumbai is seeing a shortage of 10 lakh chicken eggs daily and the rate per dozen has risen to over Rs 80 from Rs 66.

"This year, the demand for eggs has increased due to the prolonged winter, leading to a rise in the price," said Rajkumar Shewale, vice-president of Mumbai Eggs Association. "Today's wholesale rate is above Rs 600 for 100 eggs. If the prevailing situation continues, the price is likely to increase further," he added.

National Egg Coordination Committee's zonal Manager M B Desai said, "There is a shortage across Maharashtra. In general, there is a demand for 50 lakh eggs daily. Normally, after Makar Sankranti, the rate of eggs starts to reduce. Due to prolonged winter, the demand has risen to nearly 60 lakh. There is a shortage of around 10 lakh eggs daily." During mid-November, the wholesale rate of 100 eggs was around Rs 475-Rs 500, which has now touched Rs 600, Desai added.

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Santosh Bade, owner of Santosh Eggs in Ghatkopar, said his shop generally gets about 600 eggs. "But, we are getting only 400-450 eggs nowadays. The dealer said there is a shortage in the market. On Thursday, the retail egg rate was Rs 84 a dozen. During mid-November, the retail cost of eggs was Rs 66 a dozen," he added. Mumbai gets its egg supplies mainly from Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as well as Pune.

Additional Commissioner Dhanjay Palkale of Department of Animal Husbandry, Maharashtra, said, "We are thinking of bringing a policy to increase the production. We are working on a long-term policy that would allow small farmers to enter the business. At present, we are working on an idea to give a half subsidy to farmers for rearing 50 chickens." According to another official of the department, the daily production of eggs is 1.25 crore, while the current demand is more than 2 crore.

10L
No of eggs the city is short of daily