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Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
POULTRY producers in Bulawayo have increased the price of eggs due to high demand this festive season.
One of the city’s major poultry suppliers, Higrow Poultry Company, said there was increased demand for eggs this festive season.“The price of eggs has increased and this is attributed to high demand for eggs this festive season. Before the festive season we sold 12 trays of eggs per day. A tray has 30 eggs. During the festive season we’re selling 24 trays of eggs.

“A tray of large eggs before the festive season was $4,50 and has increased to $5,00. A tray of standard eggs was $4,20 now it costs $4,40,” said the company’s finance manager Ntando Ntaisi.

He said demand for eggs was expected to decrease at the beginning of the New Year.

“During Christmas time people spend a lot. The high demand we’re currently facing is short lived. As we begin the New Year, consumers shift their concentration to school fees and other needs. We expect demand to decrease in the next coming weeks,” he said.

A snap survey by Business Chronicle revealed that other egg suppliers had increased the price by $0,10.

“The demand for eggs has indeed increased this festive season. A tray of large eggs now costs $5,50 from $5,40,” said an employee at Fresh Route and Vegetables who preferred anonymity.

Zimbabwe Poultry Association president, Solomon Zawe, said increased demand was good for business.

“It’s a normal trend, whenever a commodity is on demand the price increases.  It’s a good way of doing business.  I’m yet to check with other poultry farmers to find out if they’ve increased their prices,” he said.

Meanwhile, the poultry sector has been greatly affected by imports from South Africa and Brazil which are flooding the local market at cheap prices.

Zimbabwe has a combined hatching capacity of 7, 6 million day old chicks per annum.