Egg traders in Accra say soaring poultry feed costs are erasing the benefits of record-high production, keeping prices elevated despite what farmers describe as a glut.
At the Lapaz and Mallam markets, traders argue that high input costs continue to squeeze margins, with crates of eggs selling between GHC 65 and GHC 70.
This is well above the GHC 40 price of previous years.
Elizabeth Nuertey, a trader at Lapaz, said in a media interview that, reducing feed prices is key to increasing sales and sustaining demand.
“Farmers also depend on eggs to feed their birds. If sales are low, we as traders won’t have enough money to buy more eggs, which in turn affects farmers who rely on those sales to purchase feed. We therefore urge the authorities to intervene and help reduce the cost of poultry feed. This would enable farmers to lower prices for us.”
“When I started this business as a wholesaler, a crate of eggs cost GHC 55. At the farm gate, we usually add only GHC 2 as profit, plus transportation costs. For direct consumers, a crate sells for about GHC 60,” she explained.
While some traders insist sluggish sales, not oversupply are behind the market slowdown.
“There is no glut in egg production. The real issue is that sales are discouraging, and it’s only by the grace of God that we are able to sell at all. Prices are very high now—a crate of eggs costs between GHC 65 and GHC 70. In previous years, we used to sell a crate for about GHC 40, but that is no longer the case,” Sarah Tetteh, a trader at the Mallam market said.
CEO of the Greater Accra Poultry Farmers Association, Ali Muhammed, revealed that farmgate prices of eggs have actually dropped.
He urged traders to ensure those reductions are passed on to consumers.
“We try to sensitise those who pick eggs from the farm gate to adjust their pricing, but post-market surveys show they are not responding. It’s taking a toll because farmers are realising that patronage has fallen. The challenge is compounded by poor storage facilities, especially among local farmers,” he explained.
