At present the price of 100 eggs is Rs 126, against Rs 174 per 100 eggs in the first week of January, this year which was the peak of winter season. Usually every year with the prevalence of high temperature in summer, the comsumption of eggs dips and the prices fall. But with the fall in temperature and the approach of monsoon, the prices of eggs rises up gradually.

After a steep fall in prices, on April 4, to Rs 85 per 100 eggs, the prices have shown a gradual upward trend from April 15. On April 15, the price was Rs 87 per 100 eggs. Thereafter it rose gradually till the price level touched Rs 116 per 100 eggs on May 12. Then the prices declined in the remaining days of the month. In June, however, the prices have shown a gradual rising trend.

The steep fall in egg prices in April is primarily due to increased production all over the country. The north Indian market at this period of time was badly affected due to the cheap flow of eggs from Hyderabad. The cost of production in southern states are far cheaper than in northern states due to availability of poultry feed at cheaper rates, Poultry Federation of India's former president, BM Chadha, said.

He said that though the cost of soyabean has increased to Rs 10,000 per tonne from Rs 7,000 per tonne in the previous year and that of maize to Rs 6,800 per tonne from Rs 5,500 per tonne in the previous year, these products are available at far cheaper rates in the south. As most of the edible oil units are located in the south, this facilitates the availability of oilcakes as poultry feed at cheaper rates in south India. Besides, the cost of labour in the southern part of the country is also cheaper.

Now the prices of eggs are slated to rise as about 45 lakh eggs were reportedly destroyed in AP and TN in April-May. Seven lakh eggs were destroyed in in Poona and Nasik and about 1.5 lakh eggs were destroyed in north India.

Meanwhile, the North India Poultry Farmers' Association has alleged that illegal allotment has been made to 13 shops in Gazipur wholesale market, in Delhi by the Delhi government. They have demanded that their allotment be cancelled. They further alleged that illegal sale of chicken by numgers are continuing much to the detriment of farmers and authorities should keep a strict vigil that chickens are sold by weight only.