Chennai: The number of eggs being exported to Qatar from Namakkal has increased multifold from 1.5 crores to 2.5 crores due to the demand created by the FIFA World Cup. The demand has also increased since the eggs produced in Namakkal are sold for a cheaper price than Turkish eggs.
According to a report on The Hindu, around 1,100 poultry farms are functioning in Namakkal.
On a daily basis, Namakkal district produces 5.5 crores to 6 crores eggs. Usually, the producers send 1.50 to 1.75 crores eggs to Kerala, 45 lakh eggs to the noon meal scheme, 40 lakh eggs to Bengaluru and the remaining eggs to various districts of Tamil Nadu and other countries.
Earlier, Namakkal exporters were sending 1.5 crores eggs to Qatar. However, now they are sending 2 crores to 2.5 crores eggs due to the increase in demand.
All the exporters who were selling an egg for Rs 5.35 on Monday are mulling on increasing the price of the egg to Rs 6.
As a result, the retail price is expected to increase above Rs 6 per egg.
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Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Poultry Farmers' Association president K Singaraj said that the production has also increased in Namakkal to meet the demand for eggs.
He also said that Qatar usually purchases eggs from Turkey. However, the price of Turkey eggs recently increased due to the rise in production cost.
Singaraj told The Hindu: "An egg box (consisting of 360 eggs) from Namakkal was exported to Qatar for 29 to 30 dollars. A box of eggs from Turkey, on the other hand, costs $36. So buying Namakkal eggs leads to a saving of six dollars."
He also added that the FIFA World Cup has increased the demand for eggs.