Desk Report,
White eggs belong to the poor, red eggs are expensive.
Red eggs are being sold at retail shops in Rajshahi city’s Saheb Bazar Raw Market for 38 taka and white eggs for 32 taka per hali. According to nutrition experts, the nutritional value of these two eggs is the same. Still, people are buying red eggs for 6 taka more per hali, and white eggs are also being sold. However, white eggs are being sold more in bakeries and hotels. Poor families are also buying white eggs. Meanwhile, white egg farmers say that their production costs are not increasing due to the low price.
White eggs belong to the poor, red eggs are expensive.
Prothom Alo spoke to Md. Jalal Uddin Sardar, Professor of the Veterinary and Animal Science Department of Rajshahi University, about the nutritional value of red and white eggs. He said that the nutritional value of eggs of both colors is the same. Nutrition does not differ due to color. The taste is also the same, unless other food (organic or rich in omega-3) is fed. He said that the thickness of the egg shell depends on the age of the chicken, not on color. As a result, white eggs break easily, which is not always right.
Kazi Farms mainly produces red eggs. When contacted, the company’s Assistant General Manager (AGM) Md. Saiful Islam recently told Prothom Alo that people eat red eggs more. The demand is high. It could also be because of the color. Its price is high due to the increased demand. He said that red eggs are produced more in the country. Only in the Rajshahi region are white eggs more.
A different estimate of the demand for eggs was found from shopkeepers in Rajshahi. Sultan Sheikh, owner of Sultan Store at Hadir More in Rajshahi City, said that the demand for white eggs is higher in his area. White eggs are sold almost three times more than red eggs.
Joynal Abedin, owner of JRP Enterprise, an egg seller in Sahebbazar, Rajshahi, said that an average of 10,000 white eggs are sold in his shop every day. And red eggs are sold at 8 to 9.5 thousand.
One afternoon, while buying a crate of white eggs from JRP Enterprises, I spoke to a housewife. When asked why she bought white eggs, she told Prothom Alo, “Whatever she likes.”
Alia Khatun, an employee of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, said that white eggs are eaten at their home. She said that her mother buys eggs as the reason. She can only tell. Then, after hearing from her mother, she said, “The price of white eggs is six taka less these days. That’s why my mother buys white eggs.”
A teacher in the city, who did not want to be named, said that her house needs a lot of eggs a month. She cannot afford to buy red eggs. She always buys white eggs because they are a little more economical. Many people do not buy these eggs because their shells are thin, fearing they will break. She carefully carries the eggs. There is no problem.
Alia Rupi, a poet in the city, also likes red eggs. She thinks that red eggs are a little less tasty than local eggs, and white eggs are even less tasty. That’s why she buys red eggs even though they are a little more expensive. According to her, white eggs are a little softer.
School teacher Regina Khatun also said that she prefers red eggs. She thinks that when buying white eggs from the market, there is a risk of them breaking on the way. One or two crack while boiling them. The taste is also different.
Again, the opposite statement was found from Gulshan Ara, a cake maker from Rajshahi city. He said that white eggs are always available at home. He said that white eggs are available in a little larger size. They are also more caloric. And the price is always available at a lower price. According to him, many people buy red eggs thinking that they are close to domestic chicken eggs. In fact, they are all farm eggs.
What farmers are saying
Kamal Hossain, a farmer from Ashrafer Mor in Paba Upazila of Rajshahi, has 5,000 red egg chickens. And he has about 60,000 white egg chickens. He said that the production cost of red eggs is a little higher. At least 50 paisas more than white eggs. Red egg chickens need to be fed a little more. On average, these chickens eat 120 grams of food daily, they have to be given a fan. You have to pay more attention to the care of the droppings. Otherwise, they cannot survive on the farm. On the other hand, white egg chickens eat 110 grams. They are less troublesome. They are disease-resistant. They also lay more eggs. That is why marginal farmers raise white eggs. Their white eggs are sold wholesale for 6 taka 90 paisa; that is, one hali has to be sold for 27 taka 60 paisa. These eggs are being sold in the market for 32 taka a hali. And red eggs are being sold wholesale for 8 taka 10 paisa each, hali for 32 taka 40 paisa. In the market, each hali is sold for 38 taka.
