Egg production in the country is likely to surge from the current level of about 7,500 crore to about 9,500 crore eggs by 2015, according to a survey by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). The production is growing at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 8%.
With over 2,800 crore eggs produced in the state per year, Andhra Pradesh accounts for the highest share of over 30% in the total egg production across the country. Tamil Nadu, with a share of about 20%, ranks second. Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab and West Bengal are other leading egg-producing states in India but each has a share of less than 10%. Karnataka, Kerala and Odisha are other states with over 5% share in egg production across the country.
?Low cost , high productivity, rise in egg consumption in the north owing to growing per capita income of a young and increasingly urban population and emerging export markets are certain key growth drivers,? DS Rawat, national secretary general of Assocham, said in a release.
?On the flip-side, rise in bird mortality rate due to less intake of feed resulting from an upswing in prices of essential feeds such as soya, jowar, broken rice, maize and others together with seasonal uncertainties have led to a sharp rise in egg prices of late,? he said.
India exports over five crore eggs worth over R250 crore each year and the winter season is the peak time for exports. Afghanistan, Algeria, Hong Kong, Maldives, Middle East and African countries are the leading export markets.
Namakkal in Tamil Nadu is India?s egg export hub and accounts for over 90% of India?s total egg exports. The global market for eggs is currently at over 2,000 billion and is rising at a growth rate of over 60%.
Asia accounts for about 60% of global egg production followed by the US, Brazil and Mexico as they together account for about 20%, Europe (15%), Africa (about 4%) and rest of the world accounts for about 1%. “Egg consumption is rising across the globe due to rising economic prosperity amid the rising middle class coupled with growth in overall population and demographics, relative cost advantage, evolution of fast-food chains leading to broad egg acceptability and with eggs being a high nutrition value, affordable and quality source of animal protein,” Rawat said. ?The government should perk up the egg industry as it is environmentally sustainable and has a very low carbon footprint. Eggs have the added benefit of being a more affordable and nutritional food option for consumers.?
