Egg prices have risen in several parts of the country, with poultry farmers and traders attributing the increase to rising costs of chicken feed, medication, chicks, and other production inputs.
In Kamuli Municipality, Mr Peter Okocha Kasolo, the director of Madiba Poultry Farm in Kananage Village, says the rising cost of maize, a key ingredient in poultry feed, has increased the cost of egg production.
‘Currently, the price of maize is high, yet it’s paramount in making the feed for the birds. Therefore, the price of eggs automatically had to rise,’ he says.
He says a kilogramme of maize now costs about Shs1,300, up from Shs500, while the cost of medication and vaccination for chicks has also increased.
Mr Kasolo says a vaccination sachet for chicks that previously cost Shs5,000 now costs Shs7,000, adding to the cost of keeping poultry.
Njeru
In Njeru, Buikwe District, Ms Oliver Kateme, a poultry farmer, says the rising cost of feed is also responsible for the increase in egg prices.
She says a kilogramme of maize bran, which previously cost about Shs500, now costs around Shs1,100, although prices vary depending on the supplier.
She adds that a tray of eggs that previously cost about Shs8,500 wholesale now sells for between Shs10,000 and Shs12,000 or more.
‘Farmers are now forced to set prices depending on how much they spend on feeding, treating and caring for their chickens,’ Ms Kateme adds.
In Arua City, a tray of eggs now costs about Shs13,500 in most parts of the city, up from Shs12,500 last month.
Mr Jerry Dramadri, a poultry farmer in Arua City, says the increase is largely due to the rising cost and limited availability of chicken feed.
‘The prices of feeds have gone up and that is why we have raised the prices for eggs. We have few suppliers now because it is difficult to get maize, which is the main ingredient for chicken food,’ he says.
Mr Dramadri, however, expects prices to ease towards late October or November when farmers begin harvesting maize.
In parts of Arua District, an egg now costs Shs600, up from Shs500, while an egg from a local chicken costs about Shs1,300.
Ms Jennety Opinia, a consumer, said she hoped prices would fall soon, noting that eggs are an important and relatively affordable source of food.
In Kabale Town, prominent poultry farmer Nicodemus Odo Tumukwasibwe attributed the increase to higher poultry feed costs, a shortage of chicks and increased competition from large investors in the poultry sector.
He said reliable hatcheries had been out of operation for about eight months, affecting the supply of chicks and the availability of birds for egg production.
‘Although the increased prices of poultry feeds have been seen as the reason why the prices of eggs increased, lack of reliable hatcheries in the country to stabilise the parent stock is another challenge, especially after the government banned the importation of chicks from foreign countries,’ Mr Tumukwasibwe said.
He also said some large investors who had initially planned to add value to eggs had instead entered the market by selling eggs directly, further affecting competition and supply.
Kabale prices
Traders in Kabale, including Mr James Aguma, Ms Mary Hunama and Ms Agnes Kwatirira, said they had also increased their prices because farmers were charging more.
Ms Kwatirira said a tray that farmers previously supplied at Shs11,000 is now bought at about Shs13,000.
‘We used to sell it at Shs12,000, making a profit of Shs1,000. Because of challenges affecting poultry farming, farmers supply us with a tray of eggs at Shs13,000, and we sell it at Shs14,000,’ she said.
Ms Kwatirira said the higher prices had reduced the number of customers, although demand remained steady.
The rising egg prices have put pressure on both farmers and consumers, with traders warning that prices could remain high until the cost and availability of poultry feed and other inputs improve.
Farmers say increased production costs are leaving them with little choice but to pass the additional expenses on to consumers.
Arua prices
In parts of Arua District, an egg now costs Shs600, up from Shs500, while an egg from a local chicken costs about Shs1,300.
Ms Jennety Opinia, a consumer, said she hoped prices would fall soon, noting that eggs are an important and relatively affordable source of food.