Mumbai: The price of eggs has attained a record high of Rs 108-110 per dozen in certain retail markets of Mumbai. Traders cite high demand due to baking requirements over Christmas and New Year, a cold wave in North India as well as lower production as a reason for “short supply”. Some wholesalers are hopeful that rates will drop marginally the following week given that the peak consumption period of Christmas-New Year will have ebbed.On Nov 25, TOI had reported how eggs had broken the psychological barrier of Rs 100 per dozen. On Dec 31, eggs sold for Rs 110 per dozen in Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri, Rs 108 in Bandra, Khar and Dadar, Rs 96 in Borivli and Vikhroli and Rs 90 in wholesale-cum-retail shops of Kurla.Actor Khurshed Lawyer, the famous Swami of Munnabhai MBBS, tweeted, “Impossible to understand how and why eggs’ price today is Rs 108 a dozen considering poultry farms have opened by the kilo across India AND breeding/ growth is done via Injections/ artificial means.” Lawyer told TOI Wednesday, “I live in Dadar and I was shocked to see that eggs have crossed Rs 100 per dozen. They are now selling for Rs 108. I don’t see any shortage — shop shelves are filled with eggs.” He agreed that consumption has risen, “firstly because a lot of people now perceive eggs as vegetarian,and secondly because the trend towards gymming and fitness has drawn more people to eat eggs”.On a wider front, Mumbaikars are unnerved by the rapid increase in cost of basic non-vegetarian items. Chicken has come to cost Rs 280-320 per kg depending on weight and cut, where it had cost Rs 175-180 not too long ago. Goat mutton is priced Rs 850-1,000 per kg on average with the boneless variety scaling Rs 1,400 per kilo.Altaf Ahmed Khan of Ahmed Eggs Merchant, whose father Ahmed Khan is chairman of the Mumbai Egg Traders Association, said, “The festive season and cold weather has raised demand for eggs to very high levels. The NECC wholesale rate is Rs 710 for 100 pieces while our shop’s retail price is Rs 90 a dozen. But vendors charge by locality and also do home delivery. So eggs may sell for Rs 110 a dozen in Bandra West and Rs 90 in Bandra East. Still it is expected that the market will fall soon now that Christmas is over and sale is also slow.”Khan said, “Broiler chicken is also quite expensive due to New Year requirement in restaurants and cafes. Dec 31 tends to record the highest sale of chicken products in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. Slum localities are selling chicken for Rs 280 per kg at present while residents of Bandra West are purchasing for Rs 320 per kilo.”
