Egg prices hit the roof

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 19

The high prices of eggs have shocked city residents. For the first time, the prices of eggs have increased by almost 100 per cent in the past three to four months. An egg that was available in the market for just Rs 4 three months ago now costs Rs 7 to Rs 8. Egg sellers say the price is likely to increase in the coming days as the production is not going to normalise soon.

The hike is a result of a shortage caused by several factors. Ashok Nagpal, who is into the poultry business for the past 47 years at Sector 21, says he has never witnessed such a hike in the prices.

Nagpal says various factors, including a higher demand due to the cold weather and a reduction in the production, has led to the shortage.

Suman, a resident of Sector 22, says she her family has cut down on the consumption of eggs. Another trader said they expected the prices to stabilise in three to four weeks. The owner of a poultry farm in Panchkula said strict pollution-control rules, high prices of feed and high cost of production had affected the business. With the increase in the rates of eggs, the rates of omelette has also increased in restaurants. Ashok Agarwal, who runs a restaurant, said, “We use a lot of eggs on our menu and have no choice but to increase the rates temporarily.”