Kathmandu, June 6: The Nepal Layers Poultry Farmers Association has once again increased the farm-gate support price of eggs, citing rising production costs.
A physical and virtual meeting of the association held in Kathmandu on Friday approved the new rates, which came into effect immediately. According to Association Chairman Binod Pokharel, the revised prices were determined based on consultations and recommendations from egg producers and traders across the country, with Chitwan serving as the benchmark market.
Under the new pricing structure, the farm support price for extra-large (XL) eggs has been set at Rs 560 per crate (30 eggs), large eggs at Rs 545, medium eggs at Rs 515, and small eggs at Rs 3,000 per carton. Following the revision, the retail price of eggs has reached around Rs 25 per piece.
The association has urged all traders and stakeholders to follow business in line with the newly fixed prices. Pokharel said the adjustment was necessary due to production fluctuations caused by the hot weather and the increasing cost burden faced by farmers.
Egg prices have risen steadily over the past month. On April 24, the support price for XL eggs stood at Rs 465 per crate, compared to the current Rs 560, marking an increase of Rs 95, or about 20 percent. During the same period, the price of large eggs rose from Rs 490 to Rs 545 per crate, medium eggs from Rs 400 to Rs 515, and small eggs from Rs 2,300 to Rs 3,000 per carton.
According to the association, reduced egg production and growing market demand in recent weeks have contributed to the continuous price increase. Rising costs of poultry feed, medicines and other production inputs have also made price adjustments necessary.
Pokharel said the current production cost of an egg stands at approximately Rs 19.12 per piece. With the implementation of the new support price, farmers have begun receiving prices closer to their production costs.
He also attributed the price improvement to a rise in tourist arrivals, stricter controls on egg imports and cross-border transportation in border areas, and stronger domestic demand.
While farmers are now receiving prices near cost levels, Pokharel stressed the need for government support and policy measures to help control production costs and improve market management. He said maintaining the current price level would depend on efforts to reduce production expenses and ensure a more organised market system. #nepal
