The price of eggs has been increasing in the country. In some places, the price has also doubled in the last few weeks. Earlier, a tray of eggs was available at a price ranging from Nu.220 to Nu 320 in various parts of the country.
Besides price increase, consumers in most towns across the country are also seeing a shortage of eggs.
Chimi Wangmo, a resident of Trashigang town said that the price is Nu 400 per tray and Nu 2400 per carton. “Since we are working in a bakery, we require more number of eggs. There is a shortage as well.”
Kinley Wangchuk, a resident of Tsirang said that three months ago, eggs were easily available in the market. “But now there is an increase in the price of eggs and we cannot get eggs as well. For a tray, the cost is Nu 400 and Nu 2700-2800 for a carton. And it costs around Nu 2600 when we purchase it from the farm.”
Sukh Raj Rai, a customer in Chhukha, said that he bought the last tray of eggs in his locality at Nu 390. “ The next time when we went to Phuentshogling town, shopkeepers said they don’t have eggs in stock.”
According to some poultry farmers, the increase in the price of poultry feed is fuelling the spike.
Jigme, a poultry farm owner in Trashigang said that, they had no problem with poultry feed last year. “ But this year the price of poultry feed has almost doubled and it costs around Nu 2000 per bag. The price of feed is high so therefore the price of eggs is also increasing.”
A poultry farm owner in Tsirang, San Man Subba said that, they heard some farms sold egg-laying hens during the restriction on import of meat. “ And maybe that’s why there is a shortage.”
Kinley Dorji a shopkeeper in Chhukha blamed the shortage of eggs for the price increase. ‘It is difficult to get eggs. I bought two to three trays from the village and customers took that immediately. There is shortage of eggs in the town so the price is high.”
Meanwhile, the agriculture and forests ministry said that they have not received any official complaints about the increasing price. According to the ministry, possible reasons could be the high demand for eggs due to meat import restrictions in the country. The Ministry also said that reduced import of feed, day-old chicks, and mother stocks from abroad due to the lockdowns in other countries may be other attributing factors.
Tshering Zam
