Zoom-Bangla Desk: Although there is a daily demand of 50 million eggs in the country, the production has reduced to 40 million due to floods. On the other hand, because the price of everything is high in the market, there is pressure on eggs. That is why there is instability in the egg market for more than a month.
In this situation, the World Egg Day-2024 is being celebrated today on Friday. The day is being celebrated by public and private institutions with the slogan 'Nutrition in eggs, power in eggs, freedom from disease'. According to the decision of the International Egg Commission, Egg Day is celebrated around the world on the second Friday of October every year.
According to the Department of Livestock, there is a daily demand of five crore eggs in the country. Before the flood, this production capacity was 63 million pieces. From there, the production of 50 lakh pieces of eggs decreased due to floods, but it is 5 crore 80 lakh, which is more than the demand.
But according to Bangladesh Poultry Industry Central Council (BPICC) data, before the floods, egg production was 4.5 million pieces. That is, normal production is less than demand.
Director General of DLS Mohammad Rayazul Haque said that the supply of fish and vegetables in the market is low and the prices are high. Because of this, there has been an additional pressure on the eggs, an additional demand has been created. Our production of eggs is still more than the demand, which is why we decided not to import. But we need to increase the production of eggs by one more crore.
Meanwhile, the price of eggs in the market has come down due to the news of import, but they are still selling at Tk 165-175 per dozen. Which is more than the price set by the government.
DLS says winter vegetables haven't hit the market yet due to unexpected floods. Apart from this, the price of fish and meat is also high. Because of this, the demand for eggs has increased and the price has increased. Egg prices will naturally come under control when winter vegetables start arriving in the market once the rainy conditions are over.
The government has been promoting high production of eggs for the past few years, but there is occasional volatility in the market for this commodity. The government is producing about 8 million eggs more than the demand and the private sector is producing at least one crore eggs less than the daily demand. However, there is no alternative to increase local production as soon as possible to normalize supply, said the production officials.
Meanwhile, the Department of Livestock has prepared the latest estimate of the damage caused by the floods in the southeastern region on October 7. As it has emerged, the total number of affected districts in South Eastern region and Mymensingh Division (some districts including Sherpur are flooded) is 19. 5919 farms have been affected in these 19 districts. From which the production of about 50 lakh pieces of eggs has decreased.
President of Bangladesh Poultry Association Md. Sumon Howladar said that hundreds of thousands of farms have been completely closed due to floods. Due to this, the supply of eggs has decreased. But at this time, the market is in turmoil as the corporate organizations increase the price of eggs.
He said, instead of importing, the government should catch the corporates and bring the affected farmers back to production.
According to BPICC data, 13.96 percent or 60 lakh pieces of egg production in the country are supplied by large establishments. The remaining 86.04 percent supply comes from smallholder farmers. This is calculated from the daily production data of 4.50 crore pieces before the flood.
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Meanwhile, due to low production and instability in the egg market, the income earners are under the most pressure. Because only potato prices are somewhat stable in Dhaka market. Moreover, all the vegetables are now around 100 rupees, which has left the common man in trouble. In this situation, the eggs that people depend on are also out of reach.
