Decrease in price of eggs and vegetables, due to reduced demand and government incentives: Dr. Samantha

• Average retail prices for brown and white eggs are Rs.42.00 and Rs.41.00

By Leenah Wahab  

Increased support for the egg industry by the government and lower demand for eggs causing higher market supply are among the main reasons for the drop in egg prices, Senior Research Officer at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute (HARTI), Dr. N.P.G. Samantha,  told Daily Mirror yesterday.  

The prices of brown and white eggs have decreased by 11% and 14% respectively, their prices ranged Rs.36.00-42.00/egg and Rs.33.00-38.00/kg respectively, according to the Commodities Bulletin issued for the 3rd week of September by HARTI.  

It also shows that, compared to the same period last year, prices of both brown and white eggs have decreased by 16% and 20% respectively. Retail prices of both brown and white eggs have decreased and the average price of the brown and white eggs have been recorded as Rs.42.00 and Rs.41.00 respectively. Prices of brown and white eggs ranged Rs.38.00- 46.00 and Rs.36.00-45.00 respectively. 
 

“There were issues with the egg industry last year due to cases of corruption, but now facilities are coming back to normal since the government provided incentives,” Dr. Samantha explained.  

He further explained that the drop in vegetable prices can be attributed to the start of the Yala season. “Vegetables are highly perishable and must be harvested daily, it cannot wait for the next two days. Normally, prices decrease, but the decrease was highlighted due to low demand from outside traders,” Dr. Samantha said.  

Prices of most of the major vegetables have decreased due to increased supply. Considering up-country varieties, both beans and beetroot have decreased by Rs.20.00/kg while carrots have decreased by Rs.14.00/ kg. Considering low country vegetables, prices of lady’s fingers, long beans and pumpkin have decreased by Rs.36.00/kg, Rs.31.00/kg and Rs.21.00/kg respectively, the price of green chillies has decreased by Rs.24.00/kg and the lime price has increased by Rs.8.00/kg, according to the same Commodities Bulletin report.

  
When asked whether trends in egg and vegetable prices will continue, Dr. Samantha stated that it depends on demand and supply in the market, and production will change accordingly. “However, it is clear that inflation has decreased since 2022, and that prices are stabilising,” he said.