April 14: The price of eggs has increased four times within a month. According to the Nepal Egg Producers' Association, they were forced to increase the price after the farmers started abandoning the hatchery business as they were not getting the price according to the cost of production.

The association has decided on April 11 to fix the farm price of a crate of eggs at Rs 375 for large eggs and Rs 350 for medium eggs. The consumer price has been fixed at Rs 15 per egg. Earlier, the association had increased the price of eggs on March 23, April 4 and April 6.

When the price was increased on March 23, the price of large eggs went up by Rs 45 per crate in less than a month. At that time, the farm price of large eggs was Rs 330 per crate. The price of medium eggs increased by Rs 50 per crate during this period. On March 23, the average farm price of eggs was Rs 300 per crate.

The general secretary of the association, Prabin KC, said that small farmers have been hit by the dominance of big farmers and middlemen in the egg business. He says that most of the farmers are on the verge of abandoning this profession because the farmers cannot get the price according to the cost due to the involvement of middlemen.

Currently, 3.9 million eggs are produced every day in Nepal. The demand is 3.5 million. More than 400,000 eggs are produced in excess every day. Since the production is high and demand is low, the big farmers in collusion with middlemen are forcing the small farmers to sell eggs at a lower price than the cost price. This practice has been detrimental for small farmers. "Even now, the production cost of eggs is Rs 14 per egg, but farmers have to sell it to middlemen for Rs 12.5," said KC, adding, "The middlemen take away all the profit and the farmers get in trouble.”

The association has repeatedly requested the Department of Livestock Services and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to determine the cost of eggs and the price that the farmers will get and to maintain uniformity in the price, but it has not been possible due to the frequent change of ministers.

Businessmen say that Nepali farmers are in trouble due to the smugglers are active in bringing eggs from the open border with India at low prices and sell them at high prices in Nepal. In India, the price of one crate of eggs is Rs 288.