CHITWAN, May 4: Egg demand has surged as summer heat continues to reduce production. The high temperatures have made chickens eat less feed, which has led to smaller and fewer eggs.
Dr Ananta Dahal, associate professor at the Agriculture and Forestry University in Rampur, explained that egg production typically declines during hot weather. He said chickens suffer significant stress when rising humidity follows rainfall, making them more prone to seasonal diseases. "Egg production will keep declining," he warned, noting that peak temperatures can reduce output by up to 25 percent.
Egg price increased, still short of production cost
Binod Pokhrel, central president of the Nepal Layers Poultry Farmers Association, said the drop in production has made it difficult to meet market demand. He said that farmers produced about 40,000 cartons of eggs daily four months ago, but the output has now dropped to around 28,000 cartons.
As feed prices rise and egg prices fall during summer, many farmers have sold their chickens and postponed rearing new chicks, causing a decline in egg supply. Meanwhile, demand has jumped with the reopening of schools, colleges, and increased tourist arrivals.
With the rise in demand, farmers are fetching higher prices. Pokhrel reported that XL-sized eggs now sell at Rs 460 per crate (30 eggs), large at Rs 435, and medium at Rs 385. He explained that supply shortages have steadily pushed prices up. Last year, egg prices peaked at Rs 525 per crate but later fell to Rs 350. Unable to cover production costs during that drop, many farmers sold even their laying hens.
In Nepal, producing one egg costs Rs 16.56. With fewer laying hens and growing demand, prices are likely to rise further. "The rising prices have encouraged farmers," Pokhrel said.
