Egg production costs increase, maximum retail prices mulled

By Leenah Wahab

High cost of production is to blame for the rise in egg prices, the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) said yesterday.   
Director General- Acting of the Consumer Affairs Authority, Mr. J.M Thilakarathna Banda said cost of production for small- scale farmers has increased to 34 Rupees and 29 Rupees for large scale farmers, leading to price hikes in the market. “The producer margin, collector margin and retail margin is around 9 to 10 Rupees, so egg prices will go up to 38 or 40,” he said.   

According to the Daily Food Bulletin published by Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, the prices of brown and white eggs have increased by 20%, with the price range of brown eggs increasing from 32-35 to 38-40 Rupees, and price of white eggs increasing from 29-31 to 36-37 Rupees. “A maximum retail price has not yet been imposed, but we (CAA) are discussing the issue with the price committee in detail,” Mr. Thilakarathna said.   

Further, a spokesperson of the Pricing Department of the CAA said weekly indicative prices of eggs were to be declared yesterday. “White eggs will be between 30 to 38 Rupees and Brown eggs will be 32 to 40 Rupees. These values will be in effect until the 13th of October,” they said. 18 other essential items are also being reviewed by the CAA.