With an increasing number of farmers engaged in backyard poultry farming, there is no dearth of local eggs in Trashigang. The popular and easily available local eggs have in fact captured the egg market, reports Kuensel Online.

Although imported eggs cost only 120 nglutrum (BTN) a dozen, BTN10 for an egg or BTN2 less than the local egg, the market still favours locally produced eggs, according to farmers. A few farmers in Radhi, Shongphu and Phongmey gewogs have taken up poultry on a micro-scale production level, in view of the demand for local eggs.

Chaling farmer, Norbu Pema, said: "The price has come down from BTN14 to BTN12 a piece and it gets sold easily." Chaling village alone has nine farmers who rear chickens. Before the ban on import of poultry products, local eggs enjoyed a monopoly and many farmers started raising chickens, she said. The highest price farmers got was BTN180 a dozen during the ban period.

Another poultry farmer in Radhi said that shopkeepers in town have stopped selling imported eggs. This, he attributes, to the increasing number of farmers reaping profit from eggs.

He said: "I'm happy that our eggs are preferred and that we're chasing the white Indian egg out of the market."

A Trashigang-based poultry farm owner said that there is no worry for a market at present.

He said: "The local produce has already found a market for itself."

The growing numbers of poultry farmers in Trashigang could soon capture the egg market in the region, according to a livestock focal person in Radhi, Dorji Wangchuk.

He told Kuensel Online: "More and more consumers now prefer the local egg, which is big in size and better in taste."

Consumers agree. The imported eggs are tasteless after getting used to eating the local eggs, said Chekey, a teacher in Radhi.

Another said that fresh farm eggs were worth paying BTN12 a piece. "It's in great demand as of now and the price may come down when more farmers start selling," she said.