The fisheries and livestock adviser, Farida Akhtar, has stated that eggs are very important in terms of availability. There should be no discrimination in the access to eggs; they must be provided to all classes and categories of people who need them the most. She called for eggs to be declared an essential food item. She made these remarks as the chief guest at the event organized for “World Egg Day 2024” at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) in Farmgate, Dhaka, on Friday, October 11, 2024.

The advisor mentioned that efforts must be made to encourage rural women to raise ducks and chickens to increase egg production. Previously, rural women raised poultry and sold it directly to wholesalers in their villages, contributing to the economy. This situation needs to be restored, and all necessary measures will be taken for that.

She added that the demand for eggs increases due to a decrease in vegetable supply during the months of Ashwin and Kartik. Eggs reach consumers after several transfers from the farm. This is one reason for the rising egg prices. Therefore, discussions are ongoing about how to ensure direct delivery of eggs from producers to consumers. Additionally, the usage of eggs tends to decrease during Ramadan, so we need to consider cold storage based on demand rather than stock.

Due to floods, many farms in the country have been damaged. It takes some time for these farms to return to production. Overall, there is a slight problem with supply. The advisor pointed out that the syndicate is a primary reason for the increase in egg prices and mentioned that the government is working with these issues in mind. Regular operations are being conducted in the market, and some price reductions have already been observed in wholesale markets. Prices are expected to decrease further soon.

The event was chaired by the Director General of the Department of Livestock Services, Dr. Mohammad Rezaul Haque, with special guests including Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Syed Mahmud Belal Haider and WAPSA President Moshiur Rahman. The principal paper was presented by Dr. Md. Shawkat Ali, a professor in the Poultry Science Department at Bangladesh Agricultural University.