Recently, a viral video has sparked significant debate online, highlighting that table eggs in Nigeria and other African countries are becoming more expensive, smaller in size, and increasingly scarce. Some commentaries have termed this as “Eggs-tra Wahala”, ‘Egg-streme Crisis’ or “Egg-nomics Gone Wild”

While what is happening in the table eggs demand and supply has understandably led to public concern, it is essential to unpack these claims with facts, context, and solutions.

Are Eggs Becoming More Expensive?

Indeed, the claim that eggs are becoming more expensive is accurate. Poultry farmers face skyrocketing production costs, driven mainly by the soaring prices of feed ingredients like maize, soybean meal, and supplements. Additionally, inflation, unfavorable exchange rates, and increased fuel prices significantly impact transportation and overall operational costs.

However, despite these rising costs, eggs remain one of the cheapest sources of animal protein available. When compared to other animal proteins such as beef, goat meat, and chicken, eggs offer a remarkably economical option. For instance, the cost of producing one kilogram of egg protein is substantially lower than producing the equivalent amount of protein from beef, goat, or chicken meat. Additionally, eggs are nutritionally dense, providing essential amino acids needed for growth and body repair. They are rich in vitamins like A, D, E, and B-complex, as well as minerals including calcium, phosphorus, and selenium. This unique combination of nutrients supports optimal health, brain development, and overall bodily functions, making eggs an unmatched nutritional powerhouse at a fraction of the cost of other animal proteins.

Are Eggs Getting Smaller?

It’s true—eggs are indeed shrinking. Several factors contribute to the decreasing size of eggs:

• Poor Feed Quality: Due to the escalating prices of quality feed ingredients, farmers sometimes resort to cheaper, substandard feed. This affects hens’ nutrition, directly impacting egg size.
• Genetic Factors: Some breeds of layers naturally produce smaller eggs. With limited access to high-quality breeds due to costs, many farmers resort to breeds that produce smaller-sized eggs.
• Age of Birds: Younger hens often lay smaller eggs, and with high mortality rates due to diseases and management lapses, many flocks do not reach maturity for larger egg production.
• Stress and Management Issues: Poor management practices, inadequate water supply, heat stress, and overcrowding can significantly reduce egg size.

Are Eggs Becoming Scarcer?

The scarcity of eggs is a direct consequence of poultry farmers, particularly small-scale operators, abandoning the business. The reasons behind this mass exodus are clear:

• High Operational Costs: Many farmers struggle to afford feeds, vaccines, medications, and basic operational expenses.
• Low Profit Margins: With rising production costs, farmers barely break even, let alone make profits, discouraging continued investment.
• Inadequate Support Systems: Farmers lack access to financing, technical support, and stable markets, which makes running poultry operations increasingly untenable.

Practical and Sustainable Solutions to the Egg Crisis

To practically and sustainably address this situation, we must implement realistic, immediately actionable solutions that also provide long-term stability:

1. Bulk Purchasing Cooperatives: Farmers can collectively pool their resources to purchase feed ingredients, vaccines, and equipment directly from large suppliers, reducing costs. By forming cooperatives, small-scale farmers increase their purchasing power, enabling them to negotiate lower prices and favorable terms. This collective buying approach also reduces individual overheads such as transportation and handling costs, thus significantly enhancing profitability and sustainability for farmers.
2. Alternative and Locally-Sourced Feed Ingredients: Poultry farmers can significantly reduce costs and enhance feed quality by incorporating locally available alternative ingredients. For instance, cassava peels, plantain peels and yam peels can be processed through sun-drying or fermentation to reduce anti-nutritional factors and increase digestibility. Rice bran, a by-product of rice milling, offers substantial nutritional value, rich in energy, fiber, and essential nutrients. Additionally, black soldier fly larvae are highly nutritious protein sources and can be produced sustainably from organic waste. Promoting these readily available ingredients not only reduces reliance on expensive feed materials but also boosts local economies and sustainability.
3. Comprehensive Practical Training and Capacity Building: Provide ongoing practical training to equip farmers with essential skills for cost-effective feed formulation and on-farm feed mixing tailored specifically to their needs. Additionally, training should cover critical management practices such as flock health management, disease prevention, vaccination protocols, record-keeping, efficient water and feeding management, and effective marketing strategies. These comprehensive capacity-building efforts will significantly boost farmers’ productivity, profitability, and overall sustainability in making more eggs available for buyers.
4. Local Breed Development and Selection: Local breed development has shown promising results in Nigeria through initiatives like the Shika Brown layers developed by the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) in Zaria and the FUNAAB Alpha chickens from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB). These breeds have demonstrated high adaptability, improved disease resistance, and better productivity under local conditions. However, to maximize their potential benefits, stakeholders must continue investing in these initiatives through sustained breeding programs, wide-scale information dissemination, farmer training, and supportive policies that ensure continuous improvement and broader adoption by poultry farmers nationwide.
5. Targeted Financial Support and Microfinance: To address financial constraints effectively, targeted financial support is crucial. Governments, financial institutions, and NGOs should design tailored microfinance products offering low-interest loans, flexible repayment terms, and simplified application processes specifically for small-scale poultry farmers. Practical financial literacy training and business advisory services should also accompany these financial products to ensure farmers utilize the funds efficiently, sustainably boost productivity, and enhance profitability.
6. Infrastructure and Value Chain Improvements: Strengthen the poultry value chain by investing in cold storage facilities, reliable transportation, and effective market systems to reduce losses and stabilize egg prices.

Conclusion

While the concerns raised by the viral video are valid, understanding the underlying factors driving these issues is crucial. Eggs may be getting more expensive, smaller, and scarcer, but proactive, collaborative, and practical solutions can restore stability. A thriving poultry industry benefits everyone—from farmers dedicated to egg production to millions of Nigerians and other Africans who depend on this nutritious, affordable protein source.