Summer heat reduces egg production; demand and prices on the rise

CHITWAN, APRIL 5: With the arrival of summer, egg production in Nepal has declined significantly, triggering a rise in demand and price. The drop in output is mainly attributed to the heat, which causes chickens to eat less feed, resulting in both a decrease in the number and size of eggs.

Dr. Ananta Dahal, Associate Professor at the Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, explains that hens naturally produce fewer eggs in hotter weather. “The heat stresses chickens, especially when accompanied by increased humidity after rainfall,” he said. “As temperatures rise, egg production could decline further by as much as 25 percent at peak heat.”

The situation is also complicated by seasonal outbreaks of poultry diseases, which are more common during this time of year.

Vinod Pokharel, Central President of the Nepal Layers Poultry Association, said the decline in production is making it difficult to meet market demand. “Just four months ago, Nepal was producing around 40,000 cartons of eggs daily,” he noted. “Now, that number has dropped to around 28,000.”

According to Pokharel, the problem is further aggravated by rising feed costs and lower egg prices earlier in the year, which forced many farmers to sell their hens and delay raising new chicks. At the same time, demand has surged with the reopening of schools and colleges and an increase in tourism.

“As supply shrinks and demand grows, prices are starting to rise,” Pokharel said. The current rates per crate (30 eggs) stand at Rs 460 for extra-large, Rs 435 for large, and Rs 385 for medium-sized eggs. Prices had dropped to Rs 350 per crate last year after reaching a peak of Rs 525. The decline in price had made egg production unsustainable for many farmers, leading them to sell their laying hens.

The average cost of production per egg in Nepal is Rs 16.56. With the number of laying hens falling and demand steadily increasing, prices are expected to continue climbing. “The recent price increase has given farmers a renewed sense of hope,” Pokharel said.