Bhubaneswar: Odisha Minister for Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Gokulananda Mallik has warned of stern action against people found hoarding and black marketing of eggs.
Speaking to the media, Mallik admitted that prices of eggs witnessed a rise recently in the state as there is a shortage.
According to the minister, a large number of eggs are sent to West Bengal which also obtains eggs from Andhra Pradesh. However, West Bengal has now reduced import from Andhra owing to some poultry disease prevailing there.
He said, “I agree that prices of eggs have risen in some places in Odisha owing to a outbreak of poultry disease in Andhra Pradesh. Currently, West Bengal is only buying eggs from Odisha and this has created a shortage here.”
At the same time, people have increased consumption of eggs in the winter resulting in a temporary price hike, Mallik added.
The minister informed that Odisha has already initiated steps to increase egg production to 10 lakh per day and is providing support to the poultry farmers to achieve the target.