September 7, 2004

Broiler, Egg Rates Lowered In India

Broiler producers and farmers in the shell egg trade in India's Tamil Nadu have pruned farm-gate prices of their produce.

This move is in anticipation of the Tamil austere month of Purattassi (starting September 15) when the consumption of poultry products will touch the nadir.

To save the chicken farms and the trade from possible accumulation of stocks, major producers under the banner of the State Broiler Coordination Committee have chosen to bring down the wholesale price of live birds this week to Rs 25 per kg from Rs 27 last week.

For shell eggs, the Namakkal-based National Egg Coordination Committee's zonal panel has cut the wholesale rate by 10 paise to Rs 1.30 per egg.

The price cut was reportedly meant to encourage movement of table egg consignments that were stuck in the wake of the recent truckers' strike. The reduction in the selling price is also partly aimed at stimulating egg consumption.

The previous week's peak rate of Rs 1.40 was feared to have created market resistance at a time when the religious occasions are to be widely observed in the Southern consumption centers. Egg consumption is supposed to be ceased during this period.

The actual transaction is said to be taking place at a discount of Rs 2 to the fixed prices of Rs 25 a kg.