Egg Prices Surge as Demand Rises in Bhadau Following Shravan Fast

With the onset of Bhadau in the Lunar Calendar, the demand for eggs has surged, reversing the decline seen during the holy month of Shravan when many Hindus observe fasting and adhere to a vegetarian diet. As demand has picked up, poultry farms have responded by raising egg prices, according to Binod Pokharel, Executive Director of Daunne Agro Farm Limited.

Following a directive from the Department of Commercial Supply and Consumer Protection, which allows producers to set their prices, Daunne Agro in Chitwan has set the price at Rs 500 per crate (30 eggs). The price of large eggs is Rs 495 per crate, while medium eggs are priced at Rs 425 per crate.

Himchuli Poultry Farm has also increased its prices, with excel eggs rising by Rs 5 per crate and large and medium eggs by Rs 10, according to Farm Chair Rajendra Lamichhane.

The egg producers are marketing their products through the Nepal Layers Poultry Association. Pokharel, who also serves as the association’s president, highlighted that 75 percent of poultry farmers have been displaced due to ongoing financial losses in the industry.

Despite the rise in demand, egg production has declined. Poultry trader Trilochan Kandel, former president of the Chitwan Industry Association, noted that daily egg production has dropped from 2.5–2.6 million eggs two months ago to 2.3–2.4 million currently.