Poultry farmers in the country have expressed concern over the falling egg prices.

The farmers say this is the second time in a year that the price of eggs is falling to below Shs7,000, which they say is the lowest price drop in recent years.

The biggest price drop was also experienced in the first Covid-19 induced lockdown, and farmers say the current second lockdown is to blame.

A tray of small sized eggs were last week selling at about Shs7000 while the bigger size went for Shs8,000. Retail prices fell to as low as Shs250 in most areas.

John Bosco Ssebyuma, a poultry farmer in Mpigi district said it has been tough with the fall in eggs and chicken prices yet prices of poultry feeds are going up. 

He added that the lockdown has made markets inaccessible.

“We are stuck with eggs since we cannot access the market even with low prices. A tray of eggs that was previously sold between sh9,000 and sh10,000 is now between sh7000 and sh8000. A broiler chicken previously sold at sh20,000 is now at sh10,000,” he said.

Rose Kayanga, the Biyinzika Poultry Suppliers Mbale Branch Manager, said the pandemic has affected the sector with falling demand for poultry products, including eggs and chicken prices, yet prices for feeds have remained high.

“We have witnessed a decline in demand for our poultry feeds, and the buyers for our one-day-old chicks have reduced. Since the lockdown was introduced, chicken consumption has gone down with the closure of bars and other late-night activities,” she said.

Aga Ssekalala, the Executive Director, Ugachick, said about 60 per cent of the eggs produced in Uganda are exported to Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania and Rwanda.

But due to travel restrictions brought by the lockdown, the market has been affected.

This price drop is also partly due to the short lifespan of eggs estimated at just over four weeks under normal storage. Several farms are taking their produce to social media to find buyers.

Actually, most of them are making deliveries for sizeable requests by accepting mobile money payments.

James Mugerwa, an extension worker explains that finding the market can be gruesome but since many people are now looking for consumables online with limited movements, using social media contacts can be a useful tactic in selling the eggs instead of throwing them away.

“The market can still be there by telling your online friends what you have got to offer,” Mugerwa says.