CHITWAN: Egg farmers, who had long been selling below their cost of production, have finally found some relief following a recent price hike.
The rise in prices comes amid declining production caused by intense summer heat, which has, in turn, driven up demand.
The Nepal Layers Poultry Breeding Association has set new support prices effective from today.
The farm price for XL eggs (30 pieces) has been fixed at Rs 480 per crate, while large and medium eggs are priced at Rs 465 and Rs 435 per crate respectively.
This marks a Rs 15 increase per crate compared to the previous rate, with farmers now receiving about Rs 15.5 per egg.
Despite the rise, the price still falls short of covering the full production cost, which stands at Rs 16.56 per egg, according to the Association’s President Binod Pokharel.
“Even with the increase, farmers haven’t reached the break-even point,” he said. “But the hike has brought some much-needed relief.”
Production has dropped by up to 25 percent due to the extreme heat, as chickens consume less feed and are more prone to disease in such conditions.
Five months ago, daily production stood at 40,000 cartons, but it has now declined to around 25,000.
Many farmers have been forced to sell off their chickens and have been unable to raise new chicks, largely due to the combined burden of soaring feed costs and low egg prices during the summer.
As the population of egg-laying hens declines and demand rises, prices are expected to continue increasing. Pokharel noted that around 75 percent of egg farmers in Nepal have exited the industry, and it is only the large farms still in operation that are currently meeting the country’s demand.
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