Consider Greater Good

Import of eggs in summer season, Consider it for welfare reason.

Rising prices of egg give a good amount of trouble to the consumers. Being cheapest source of protein, any price hike in egg causes serous trouble in protein consumption of urban consumers. A dozen is being traded at Tk 165. Such exorbitant prices of egg evidently slash the consumption of egg.

It is pretty common that egg prices soar during summer season. Big poultry farmers claim that Chickens drink lots of water and eat less feed in this time. It results in drop in egg production, causing rise in egg prices. Prices of eggs stabilize in the winter season. Despite this recurrent phenomenon, we see little intervention from the government.

Govt could easily allow import of eggs in the summer season, when egg production dips. Imported eggs could meet up the shortfall in production, stabilizing the price in egg market. Allowing more people to import egg in this 4/5 months greatly address the crisis in the egg market. For some reasons, govt is not in favor of widespread import of eggs. If govt limits import of eggs to urban areas, that will do a great help bringing down the prices of eggs in the summer season.

Since diesel price increased by Tk 20/liter, there is widespread apprehension that prices of essentials will go up,worsening inflation. In this backdrop, eggs and poultry products may witness elevated price in winter season too. Furthermore, Bangladesh imports key ingredients of poultry feed. Corn and soya account for 85% of poultry feed. And poultry feed accounts for 70% of the cost. Any external shock has the potential to increase the import cost of key ingredients of poultry feed, leading to hike the prices of poultry products.

It is reported that chick production is concentrated into the hands of big private Breeders and Hatchers. Govt can intervene here by setting up hatcheries and facilities for poultry feed across the country. Marginalized poultry farmers will avail chicks and poultry feeds at affordable prices. This ,in the end,will help maintain a stable price for poultry products.

Keeping prices of egg and poultry products low is crucial for continuing protein consumption and keeping inflation in check. This is why addressing the soaring egg prices during the summer season is important. Greater welfare is achieved by serving a wide range of consumers. For this reason, widespread import of eggs for 4/5 months of a given year should be considered for greater welfare.