Daily household budgets across the country are facing an unprecedented strain as poultry prices surge to record highs. In retail markets, single egg prices have touched a record ₹9 per piece, while live and dressed chicken prices have climbed steeply to ₹300 per kilogram.

The sudden price surge—driven by severe summer bird mortality, rising poultry feed costs, and surging export demands—is creating a widespread ripple effect. Beyond hitting home kitchens, bakeries, and local eateries, the inflation crisis is severely threatening the execution of government Mid-Day Meal (PM POSHAN) schemes, leaving school administrators and meal workers struggling to keep essential protein on children’s plates.

What is Driving the Egg & Chicken Price Hike?

Poultry producers and wholesale traders cite a combination of major factors behind the current supply crunch:

• ✓ Unprecedented Heat Stress: Peak summer temperatures caused unusually high mortality rates among broiler birds.
• ✓ Escalating Feed Costs: Prices of essential feed like maize and soybean meal have risen sharply, shrinking farmers’ margins.
• ✓ Surging Export Demand: High export margins have diverted local supplies to Gulf and African nations.

Mid-Day Meals Under Pressure: Schools Face Deficits

The most concerning impact of this surge is inside government school kitchens. Under the Mid-Day Meal scheme, millions of students rely on eggs provided 2 to 3 times a week for vital protein intake.

However, official reimbursement rates remain fixed between ₹5.50 and ₹6.00 per egg. With retail and wholesale procurement costs soaring past ₹8.50 to ₹9.00, mid-day meal workers, self-help groups, and school headmasters are forced to bear out-of-pocket losses to maintain menus.

“When the state reimburses ₹6 per egg and the market charges ₹9, the financial burden falls on local cooks. We cannot stop feeding the children, but we cannot afford to sustain these out-of-pocket losses indefinitely.” — Mid-Day Meal Union Representative

Impact on Bakeries and Small Businesses

It isn’t just households and schools feeling the pinch. Small-scale bakeries and restaurants, which consume hundreds of eggs daily for goods like pastries, cakes, and quick snacks, are witnessing a direct hit on profitability. Commercial bakeries report absorbing significant cost increases because passing the full price surge onto consumers risks dropping footfall.

When Will Prices Cool Down?

Industry analysts expect poultry and egg prices to remain elevated over the next few weeks. Restocking poultry sheds with new batches of chicks takes roughly 6 to 8 weeks before production normalizes. Relief at the local grocery store will depend on how quickly new farm stocks mature and feed prices stabilize.