The Hindu Business Line : Egg prices cut further in TN

WHOLESALE egg price in rural Tami Nadu continued its decline this week with the Namakkal-based National Egg Coordination Committee's zonal committee reducing the farm-gate price by another 10 paise at its meeting held on Monday.

This brings down the per egg rate from last week's Rs 1.45 to Rs 1.35, almost in parity with the egg price prevailing in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. The egg price in Hyerabad and Vijayawada too has fallen to Rs 1.36 this week.

NECC Namakkal sources said this downward revision was partly to bring about correction in the pricing as the nearly two-month-long high price levels seen in the wholesale egg price led to build-up of consumer resistance to some extent. The rate cut was also intended to pep consumer demand as the raising heat and higher prices forced lower off-take at retail deliveries.

The layer farmers are worried on the prevailing dry whether which would intensify the drinking water shortage in the coming weeks across the State. The fear of lower egg consumption due to the possibility of authorities ordering early examinations for the schools and colleges and the consequent closing of the institutions which are mass table egg consumption bases are haunting the shell egg producers.

However, the egg trade is optimistic of protecting the prices in view of the early Parliamentary elections which would some extent kindle demand at retail market.