The Hindu Business Line reports that the farm-gate price of egg this week was raised to Rs 2.82 a piece from last week's Rs 2.80 (it is sold at Rs 3-3.25 in the retail market), on account of perceived decline in the layer population and recovery in domestic consumption after the austere months.

According to a National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) official, Namakkal zone, prices will continue to rule firm till the end of Sabarimala season.

Industry sources told Business Line that farmers have begun placing layer chicks (which will start laying eggs after 24 weeks) during the austere months so that they can build up inventories. (A chick takes 24-weeks to hatch eggs). However, they feel egg prices will not come down as the poultry feed prices jumped by 30-50 per cent in the past two years.

Meanwhile, Palladam-based Broiler Coordination Committee has reduced the price of live birds by Rs 5 a kg from last week's Rs 48a kg. NECC has maintained the prices of its layer birds at last week's level of Rs 36 a kg.

Namakkal and Palladam prices are the benchmarks for eggs and chicken, respectively, in the country.