Ahead of Christmas, egg price jumps to Rs 90

Panaji: As the holiday season approaches, the cost of eggs has soared to new heights, impacting consumers and businesses alike.
The price of broiler eggs has risen sharply, with wholesale rates now ranging between Rs 80 and Rs 86 per dozen, while retail prices have climbed to Rs 90 per dozen.
Last month, they were Rs 70 per dozen and earlier the eggs were being sold at Rs 50 per dozen.
Organic or ‘gaavti’ eggs are fetching even higher prices, with rates reaching Rs 150 per dozen.
Egg sellers are attributing the price hike to a combination of factors, particularly the influence of the festive season.
Egg vendor Afraz Bepari expressed concerns about the affordability of eggs for the average consumer. “The current egg prices may make people abandon eating eggs altogether,” Bepari told TOI.
“We have never seen prices skyrocket so high. This is all due to some poultry farms monopolising the sales. With Christmas and New Year around the corner, they know the hospitality industry and Christian families will have no choice but to buy the eggs and have therefore hiked the rates,” he said.
Alongside regular households, bakeries and restaurants, which rely heavily on eggs for festive treats such as bebinca, Christmas cakes and cookies, are feeling the pinch.
Another egg seller, A Dias, also said the surge is due to demand for egg-based desserts. “Bakeries purchase eggs in bulk during this time to meet the increased demand. The price hike typically begins two weeks before Christmas, driven by the combination of high demand and limited supply,” he said.
The rising prices are expected to remain high until the first week of Jan, following which, the demand for eggs traditionally drops after the festive season.
The rise in the egg prices is likely to have a ripple effect on other poultry products.
Live chickens are currently priced at Rs 140 per kg, while broiler chicken is selling for Rs 190 per kg.
“Moreover, there have been increased requests for large-sized chickens, which are often served as centrepieces during festive meals,” said a chicken vendor here.
The surge in demand is putting pressure on prices and both individual consumers and businesses that depend on poultry products. But rising costs are likely to make traditional festive meals more expensive than ever before. “With the industry set to continue profiting from the festive rush, it’s clear that the season will bring both joy and a financial pinch for many families this year,” said Justin Pereira, a buyer.