New Delhi: Egg prices have shot up by 20 per cent in Delhi in last two months as winter advances leading to increasing demand.

The farm gate price (what poultry farmers get) of egg has gone up to Rs 204 per 100 pieces today from Rs 170 level on October 1, traders said.
However, there was a marginal fall compared to Rs 208 per 100 eggs yesterday. The rate touched the season's highest of Rs 212 on November 12 and continued at that level for five days before it started falling on arrival pressure.

In the retail, eggs are being sold at Rs 30 a dozen as compared to Rs 24 a dozen two weeks earlier. Traders said egg prices may surge to Rs 35 a dozen level in the next 1-2 months. Even poultry farmers expect a rise in prices.

During the winter season demand for eggs generally go up by 10-15 per cent leading to rise in prices, a wholesale trader said. National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) northern region Chairman Harish Juneja termed the increase to rise in demand as well as the high cost of soyameal, an important poultry feed. Soyameal prices are up by over 75 per cent, he said.

Juneja said the farm gate price of eggs may touch Rs 225 level this winter. While maize contributes 60 per cent of the poultry feed, soya comprises 25 per cent of the total feed.

"While wholesale price of maize continues at around Rs 7.50 per kg compared to the rate in the year-ago period, soyameal prices have jumped to about Rs 15 a kg from Rs 8.50 a kg in the review period," a poultry feed manufacturer said.

Poultry sector accounts for the highest demand for maize at about seven million tonnes annually.

Source : PTI