Egg Prices Expected to Surge by December, Warns Livestock Producers' Association

As December approaches, the price of eggs in Sri Lanka is projected to soar between Rs. 47 and Rs. 50, according to Ajith Gunasekara, the President of the Sri Lanka Livestock Producers' Association. This significant hike is attributed to a 20% increase in the cost of raw materials essential for egg production over the past few months.

Currently, the production cost of eggs stands between Rs. 32 and Rs. 34, with farm prices at Rs. 35 and market prices reaching Rs. 40, Gunasekara revealed. He cautioned that the rising production costs are pushing farmers to consider selling their eggs as chicken meat instead, further heightening the risk of egg price escalation.

The anticipated surge in demand from tourism-related hotels during December is likely to exacerbate the situation, as current production levels may not meet market needs. Gunasekara emphasized this discrepancy in supply as a contributing factor to the potential price increase.

In light of these challenges, the Livestock Producers' Association is calling on the government to eliminate taxes currently levied on eggs. Currently, taxes ranging from Rs. 9 to Rs. 11 are imposed per egg, while a 25% tax is charged on chicken meat and eggs alike, highlighting a pressing need for adjustments to ease the burden on consumers.

To ensure that the public has access to affordable sources of protein like eggs and chicken, the association is advocating for tax exemptions on these essential food items.

Report by Anisha Manage