The National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC), Namakkal zone, has trimmed the egg price to Rs 2.89 a piece to perk up consumption, according to The Hindu Business Line. Egg, that witnessed an increase in demand at the start of this month on the onset of winter, stayed flat at Rs 2.94 a piece due to fears of buyer resistance.

The price of broiler chicken, too, is on a sliding spree and has been trimmed to Rs 42 a kg from last week's Rs 46 on account of the Sabarimala season. NECC has retained the rate of layer birds (for birds of 1.3 kg) at last week's Rs 43 a kg. Namakkal and Palladam prices are the benchmarks for eggs and chicken in the country.

"This is a usual phenomenon, and prices will not be hiked till Christmas when the demand for poultry products resumes," said an NECC spokesperson.

Exports, too, have taken a hit since 2006 due to continual outbreak of bird flu in pockets of the country. Egg exports, which peaked at 1,019.03 lakh eggs in 2007-08, have plummeted to just 446.34 lakh eggs in 2010-11. Table eggs are already out of the Gulf menu and the trade is now looking at Africa and Saarc nations. But industry sources say players are keen on catering to the home turf and focus on value-addition as many mid-sized units have invested heavily and put in place environmentally controlled sheds eyeing export markets. Ever since the export basket dried up, the trade is gradually exploring newer possiblities to cater to the domestic market.