Egg prices in India have been witnessing an increasing trend recently

Egg prices in India, particularly the southern part of India have soared to unprecedented levels due to a severe maize shortage, a key component of poultry feed, significantly affecting the poultry industry and leading to decreased chicken consumption. This decrease has been exacerbated by religious practices of certain communities during the auspicious months of Karthikam and Margasiram to Dhanurmasam, from November to mid-January, which restrict the consumption of chicken, driving a shift in consumer preference towards eggs. This change has intensified during the winter, a season already known for higher egg consumption.

Amidst these dietary shifts, India's per capita egg consumption has surged dramatically, doubling over the last two decades and increasing a hundredfold in the last sixty years. The rising demand, combined with increased feed costs and significant egg exports to countries like Bangladesh and Malaysia, has sharply driven up egg prices. Experts are calling for a substantial boost in corn production by at least 40% or a relaxation of import restrictions to ease the burden on the poultry industry and stabilize egg prices.

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This situation poses a considerable challenge to consumers, especially low-income families that depend on eggs as a low-cost protein source. Both government and industry stakeholders are urgently looking for solutions to mitigate the impact on consumers and ensure the sustainability of the poultry industry.