Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter has expressed optimism that egg prices will soon come under control as the government is actively working to make them more affordable.
“The government is taking steps to stabilize egg prices through regular market monitoring. We have already seen a drop in wholesale prices, and we expect the retail prices to follow suit soon,” she stated during an event held at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in Farmgate on Friday, marking World Egg Day 2024.
The event was jointly organized by the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council, and the World’s Poultry Science Association Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB).
Farida emphasized the need to declare eggs as an essential food item, urging that rural women should be encouraged to engage in poultry farming to boost egg production. “Poultry farming can economically empower rural women, and reviving homestead poultry rearing is vital,” she added.
She noted that egg prices typically rise during the Bengali months of Ashwin-Kartik when the supply of vegetables decreases and the demand for eggs spikes. The government is also considering streamlining the egg supply chain between producers and consumers to stabilize prices.
Farida suggested the preservation of eggs in cold storage during periods of lower demand, ensuring availability during times of increased need, while stressing that hoarding will not be tolerated.
The recent floods have caused significant damage to poultry farms across the country, affecting overall egg production and supply, she pointed out.
The keynote address at the event was delivered by Prof. Dr. Mohammad Shawkat Ali of Bangladesh Agricultural University’s Poultry Science Department. Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Sayeed Mahmud Belal Haider and WAPSA-BB President Mashiur Rahman also spoke at the event, which was chaired by DLS Director General Dr. Mohammad Reazul Huq.
