Bhubaneswar, Sept 2: After heavy rains damaged vegetables and pushed up food expenses, rising egg prices are adding to the burden on households, particularly the poor. The price of an egg has reportedly jumped from around Rs 6 to Rs 8 in just two days, with traders expecting a further rise.

While traders attribute the increase to rising poultry feed costs, consumers have questioned the steep retail prices. The National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) has reportedly fixed the egg price in Odisha at around Rs 5.85, with transportation costs expected to take it to around Rs 6.50. However, eggs are currently being sold for Rs 7.50 to Rs 8 in Bhubaneswar and other parts of the state.

According to the All Odisha Non-Veg Traders' Association, a tray containing 210 eggs costs around Rs 1,270, putting the price at roughly Rs 6 per egg before transportation.

Experts say rising maize and soybean prices are driving up poultry feed costs. Maize prices have increased from Rs 17 to Rs 26 per kg, while soybean prices have risen from Rs 35 to Rs 68 per kg, increasing the cost of poultry production.

The price rise has also raised concerns over nutrition programmes. The government provides Rs 7 per egg for children at Anganwadi centres, while market prices have already crossed that amount. Children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers receive eggs under various nutrition schemes.

Odisha currently produces around 1.17 crore eggs daily against a requirement of nearly 1.80 crore. The state aims to increase annual egg production to 500 crore by 2029.

With prices rising and a significant production gap, the situation could put additional pressure on both household food budgets and government nutrition programmes.