Rains hit egg exports in TN

The incessant rains in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have badly hit the egg market in the Namakkal zone resulting in steep fall of their prices.

Speaking to Business Standard, V S Balasubramaniam, deputy manager (co-ordination), National Egg Coordination Committee, Namakkal zone, said that the export of eggs was severely affected because of the shortage of special trays required for export.

The trays are manufactured at Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu and in West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, the latter accounting for nearly 75 to 80 per cent of the total production.

"Our daily requirement of trays is around 1,000 bundles per day which can hold up to 30 lakh eggs. Due to heavy rains in the Godavari basin, we are getting only 300 to 400 bundles a day and this has resulted in a lower level of egg exports from this zone," said Balasubramaniam.

The export of eggs from the Namakkal zone has come down to only 10-15 lakh eggs a day as against 30 lakh earlier, he added.

However, the local supply of eggs to noon meal centres and domestic consumption are not at all affected. But there has been a steady decline in the price of eggs from the average Rs 1.50 last month to an average of Rs 1.20 this month.

"Despite the heavy demand in the festive season, the sale price of eggs is very low which may lead to farmers incurring losses," he added.