Egg is a wholesome nutritious food with high nutrient density because in proportion to their calorie count, they provide 12% of the daily value for protein and a wide variety of other nutrients like vitamins, essential amino acids, and minerals. Protein in nutrition is one of the most important health indices that affect children’s growth and development.
Lutein and Zeaxanthin are two newly recognised nutrients that have put eggs in the functional foods category. A functional food provides health benefits beyond its basic nutrient content. Recent studies have shown that consuming lutein and zeaxanthin can significantly lower the risk of age-related degeneration.
A great challenge currently facing the world is how to feed an estimated 9 billion people by the year 2050 worldwide without damaging the environment. The challenge is how to increase the food supply, particularly food of animal origin in light of the increasing global demand from predominantly urban population with increased purchasing capacity.
Herein, the Rural backyard poultry system plays a pivotal role in achieving nutritional security of the country in rural areas. In a village having a poultry system, the production of eggs is extremely efficient in terms of feed and water inputs and these nutritious products can supplement any household’s grain-based diet.
The poultry system has a special place in a village as they are under the control of women, requires a low investment, assists in pest control, and provides manure for fertilizer improvement in the production.
It can meet the nutritional demand of the household and the community by increasing the income source plus the social standing and creating financial autonomy.
The Indian government is also recognising the challenge and has formed a National Action Plan for Egg and Poultry 2022 to double Farmer’s Income. The total egg production in our country is 138.38 billion for the year 2022-23 while the per capita availability of egg is 101 eggs per annum. Total egg production has increased by 7.35% over the last 9 years wherein the top 5 egg-producing States are Andhra Pradesh (20.41%), Tamil Nadu (16.08%), Telangana (12.86%), West Bengal (8.84%), and Karnataka (6.38%) Together these states contribute 64.56% of the total egg production in the country.
SKM Egg Products Ltd was established in 1986 in Tamil Nadu and is one of the largest egg processing plants in Asia with a capacity to process 1.8 million eggs per day and produce 6500 tonnes of egg powder annually. The company has a state-of-the-art quality assurance laboratory equipped with sophisticated instruments and the capability to formulate and develop various kinds of egg-based mixes for bakeries . The quality and safety of the raw material are ensured with the backward integration of having its own farm and feed mill.
The poultry farm is ISO 22000 certified the Bio-security is maintained and poultry farms are registered as per norms of the European Union. The range of products is functionally superior, blends well with other ingredients and is widely used in various food applications. SKM Egg products have earned the confidence of valued customers in Europe, Japan and different parts of Asia.
SKM Egg Products reported consolidated quarterly financial figures for September 2023 ending with Net Sales at Rs 175.68 crores up 9.51% from Rs 160.43 crores as of September quarter 2022. Quarterly Net Profit climbed to Rs 28.41 crores for quarter ending September 2023 , up 135.18% from Rs 12.08 crores as of same quarter in 2022.
EBITDA stood at Rs 41.19 crores in September 2023 , up 92.93% from Rs 21.35 crores in September 2022. The EPS increased to Rs 10.79 in September 2023 quarter from Rs 4.62 in September 2022 quarter. Analysts and fund managers are advising their clients to accumulate the SKM Egg Products stock currently quoting at Rs 387 as a good fundamental buy for long-term portfolio gains.