Cracking the Egg Deficit in Northeast India

By Dr Niranjan Sivalingam

Despite a steady rise in egg consumption, Northeast India produces only a fraction of what it consumes. Every year, millions of eggs are transported into the region from outside, quietly filling a gap that local production has failed to close. This dependence is striking, not because eggs are unfamiliar or culturally unacceptable, but because demand already exists—and continues to grow.

Eggs are among the most affordable and nutrient-dense foods available, providing high-quality protein, essential vitamins, and minerals at a lower cost per unit than most animal- and plant-based alternatives. Across income groups and dietary preferences, eggs have become an everyday food, consumed at home, in eateries, and through public nutrition programmes. Yet, while consumption patterns suggest acceptance and need, production in the Northeast remains persistently low.

This mismatch between demand and supply points to deeper structural issues within the region’s poultry sector. Understanding why the Northeast produces so few eggs—and what it would take to change that—offers insights not only into nutrition gaps but also into missed economic opportunities in a region where livelihoods and food security remain closely intertwined.

The Superfood

Eggs are often hailed as a “superfood,” packed with high-quality protein, essential vitamins, and amino acids like biotin-scarce in plant-based diets. In a country where a significant portion of the population follows vegetarian or near-vegetarian diets, eggs offer an affordable and year-round source of essential nutrients. Unlike other animal-based foods, eggs are widely accepted across cultural preferences and offer unmatched affordability. For instance, eggs deliver protein at the lowest cost per gram compared to meat, fish, and even pulses, making them an accessible dietary option for households across income levels. Beyond its nutritional benefits, the humble egg is also a powerful economic driver, contributing significantly to the livestock sector and silently adding value to national GDPs across the globe.

The Global and Indian Egg Economy

Global egg production has grown more than sixfold in the past six decades—from around 250 billion eggs in 1961 to over 1,500 billion eggs in 2024, creating a market worth $200 billion. To put this in perspective, the egg industry today is valued at four times the combined annual budget of all eight North-Eastern states of India. This growth underscores the role of eggs as both a nutritional mainstay and an economic driver in the global food system.

Five countries—China, India, the United States, Mexico, and Brazil—dominate egg production, collectively contributing over 55% of the global supply. Among them, Mexico boasts the highest per capita availability at 462 eggs per person per year, followed by the USA and China (over 330 eggs). India, despite being the second-largest producer globally with 142 billion eggs annually, offers only 103 eggs per capita per year (Table-1), far short of the ICMR-NIN recommendation of 180 eggs per person per year.

Where Does Northeast India Stand?

The eight North Eastern states, home to 5.16 crore people, require about 9.28 billion eggs annually to meet ICMR dietary guidelines. However, actual production in 2023–24 was just 1.05 billion eggs (Table 2), creating a massive deficit of 8.23 billion eggs per year. Per capita availability is a mere 21 eggs annually, 80% lower than the national average. Interestingly, consumption studies reveal that people in the region eat around 93 eggs per year, meaning demand exists but supply lags drastically.

A closer look at the production trends shows significant disparities among states. While Manipur recorded remarkable growth of 95% over the period, increasing its output from 8.35 crore in 2005–06 to 16.27 crore in 2023–24, other states have failed to keep pace. Assam, the largest contributor, grew only 16%, from 53.59 crore to 62.29 crore during the same period. Some states have even registered negative growth, such as Nagaland (-49%), Sikkim (-33%), and Tripura (-93%), indicating severe structural and policy challenges. Overall, total egg production in the Northeast rose marginally from 96.8 crore in 2005–06 to 105.11 crore in 2023–24, a growth of just 8.58% over nearly two decades, far below the increase in population and demand.

This sluggish and uneven growth underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions to bridge the supply gap and harness the untapped potential of the region’s poultry sector.

Why is Egg Production So Low in the Northeast?

The deficit is not due to a lack of demand but a combination of structural challenges:

1. i) Geographical and Climatic Disadvantages: Hilly terrain, heavy rainfall, and high humidity increase disease risks and make large-scale farms less viable.
2. ii) Infrastructure and Input Gaps: Shortage of quality day-old chicks, lack of feed mills, and limited veterinary support hinder commercial operations.

iii) Dominance of Backyard Poultry: Small-scale indigenous systems dominate, resulting in low productivity.

1. iv) Poor Connectivity and Market Access: Difficult terrain and high transport costs affect input availability and market competitiveness.
2. v) Policy and Skill Gaps: Existing schemes favour backyard poultry; technical training for commercial farming is limited.

Assam: The Game Changer

Among all North-Eastern states, Assam holds the strongest potential to become the egg production hub. Its extensive plains, moderate rainfall (1,200–1,600 mm), and connectivity via road, rail, and air offer advantages unmatched by other states. Districts such as Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Nagaon, and Kamrup are particularly suitable for commercial layer farming, given their agro-climatic conditions and infrastructure access.

Assam already hosts 22 state-run poultry farms (12 functional) and about 10–12 private layer farms, but most operate at a small scale. Hatchery infrastructure is underutilized, and feed mills are scarce, forcing reliance on imports from mainland India-raising costs. The state runs several schemes—SCOPE, SPEED, and the Chief Minister’s Egg Self-Sufficiency Program—and participates in the National Livestock Mission, which provides up to ₹50 lakh in subsidy for hatchery and feed projects. However, these programs primarily support small farms, leaving large-scale commercial ventures under-incentivised.

What Needs to Change?

To convert Assam into a regional poultry powerhouse, a cluster-based approach is essential. Some key steps include:

Designating Poultry Zones in suitable districts with industrial estates for large-scale layer units.

Reviving State Hatcheries and encouraging private investment through long-term land leases, tax incentives, and single-window clearances.

Developing Feed Infrastructure and integrating local maize and oilseed production to lower costs.

Strengthening Veterinary Services with mobile diagnostic units and disease surveillance systems.

Institutionalizing Skill Development through structured programs at Assam Veterinary and Fishery University and Assam Skill University, covering farm management, biosecurity, and financial planning.

By combining infrastructure investment, policy reform, and skill-building, Assam can bridge the nutritional gap in the Northeast while unlocking a new growth engine for its rural economy.

Can the Northeast Feed Its Own Demand?

Eggs are among the simplest solutions to complex challenges of nutrition, affordability, and rural livelihoods. Yet, Northeast India continues to rely heavily on imports to meet a demand that local producers are well placed to supply. The resulting deficit is not merely a question of food availability but a reflection of underdeveloped infrastructure, policy design, and production systems that have failed to evolve with rising consumption.

Assam’s relative advantages—its plains, connectivity, existing institutions, and policy initiatives—offer a realistic pathway for the region to reduce this dependence. But unlocking this potential will require moving beyond fragmented interventions toward coordinated investments in clusters, hatcheries, feed infrastructure, veterinary services, and skills. Without such a shift, the region risks remaining trapped in a cycle where demand grows but production stagnates.

Closing the egg deficit in the Northeast is not just about producing more eggs. It is about recognising eggs as a low-cost nutritional resource and a viable engine of rural economic growth. Whether this opportunity is seized will depend on whether policy moves decisively from small-scale subsistence support to building a resilient, commercial poultry ecosystem capable of meeting the region’s needs.

Table: 1 Egg Production, Consumption in India from the year 1950-51 to 2023-24.

Source: Indiastat and the Author’s calculations.

Table: 2 State-wise Egg Production in the North East Region (in Crore)

Source: RBI statistics on egg production

 (The writer is an Assistant Professor, College of Community Science, CAU (I), Tura)