In the last six days, wholesale price of egg has plummeted 40 paise to Rs 3.05, The Hindu Business Line reports.

The price drop was announced in three phases — 15 paise on Saturday and another 15 paise on Monday and 10 paise on Thursday — by the National Egg Coordination Committee (NECC) at its rate fixation meeting here.

It is mainly due to end of the winter in the northern States — when egg consumption is normally high. Added to this is the observance of Lent days in Kerala, a major market for Tamil Nadu's poultry industry.

The resurfacing of avian flu in Bihar, where more than 2,000 birds were culled, is also a reason, said an NECC official.

After reaching a record price of Rs 3.85 a piece on 25 February, egg prices were drifting slowly to maintain demand. Prices are likely to decline further when the supply of about 45 lakh eggs to noon meal centres to Government schools would be suspended due to the annual examinations.

Meanwhile, prices of NECC's layer birds are ruling flat at Rs 49/kg while Palladam-based Broiler Coordination Committee has slashed chicken prices to Rs 40/kg (Rs 50).

Namakkal and Palladam are the benchmark prices of eggs and broiler in the country.