Prices of eggs have gone up significantly in the last few days, with each hali (four pieces) going up to Tk52-55 from Tk36.
Here are five reasons behind the rise in egg prices.
Traders say that prices of feed have nearly doubled accompanied by the rising prices of medicine, fall in production and increased rent due to fuel price hike have led to a drastic rise in egg prices.
Md Bashir Gazi, the owner of ARB Agriculture in Khulna’s Koiyar says that he had 36,000 chicken in his farm. Now he has only 14,000.
“Around six to eight die every day,” he said, adding that around 7,000 of the chicken now lay eggs.
Moreover, each 100 kilograms of feed have risen to Tk5,200 from Tk 2,800. This combined with a supply crunch have led to the hike in the once affordable protein source.
Panna Mia, from Kamal Uddin’s Farm in Koiyar says he started the farm with 15,000 chickens. Around 400 have already died. Around 480 are laying eggs.
Water purifying tablet prices have risen to Tk480 from 400, vitamins from Tk1,200 to Tk1,700, making it impossible to sell each piece of egg below Tk11.
Md Monir Hossain from Rupsha Bazar says that given the high fuel prices, transport costs have also increased.
Poultry Feed Owners Association Khulna General Secretary SM Sohrab Hossain mainly attributes the rise to the fule hike and supply crunch.
Despite the traders’ justification consumers are in despair, saying that while expenses are increasing, their income is not.
“Prices of daily commodities are increasing but our expenses are not which has made it very difficult for the low and middle income people,” says Md Saiful Islam, a consumer.
