In the Bono Region of Ghana, a hub for egg production, egg prices have risen by about 50% in recent months, causing concern for the poultry industry.
The price increased so sharply because of the high cost of maize, soybeans, and other ingredients used in the production of poultry feed, as floods from 2020 destroyed maize farmlands. A crate of eggs costs 13-18 GH¢ (Ghanaian cedi) (US$ 2.22 – US$ 3.08) in November 2020, but now costs between GH¢20-25 (US$ 3.42 – US$ 4.27), reports Ghana’s Graphic Online. Wholesalers and street vendors are complaining about subdued orders and low patronage. One street vendor noted that she was able to sell about 6 crates of boiled eggs a day, but now she struggles to sell even 2 crates a day.
The price for chicken and eggs has increased so sharply primarily because of the high cost of maize, soybeans, and other ingredients used in the production of poultry feed. Photo: Freepik
The price for chicken and eggs has increased so sharply primarily because of the high cost of maize, soybeans, and other ingredients used in the production of poultry feed. Photo: Freepik
Eggs are not only a delicacy, according to local consumers, but also an affordable source of protein for the poor, children, the youth, and the aged. The escalating price of the commodity was gradually making it “a preserve for the rich”, the Ghanaian paper reports. A member of the Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association noted that a 130 kg bag of maize, which used to sell for GH¢150 (US$ 25.64) before November last year, is currently being sold for GH¢250 (US$ 42.73).