Around the year 1981, the Indian poultry industry was hit by an unprecedented crises. Over 40 percent of all poultry farmers had stopped operations because the business had become econimically unviable. Middlemen had forced down prices and farmers were being paid less than their production cost, a result of speculative trading, since the existing market and distribution network was working against the interest of the farmers. Feed costs had risen by 250 percent in the past 5 years, whereas egg prices were static at an average of 35 paise. Consumption of eggs was low and the future looked anything but healthy.My Egg, My Price, My Life ...With no help coming from any quarter, a group of farmers motivated by Dr. B.V. Rao traveled across the country, organizing over 300 meetings with groups, individuals, and traders. Their objective - unite poultry farmers from all over India, and take control of their own destiny. Dr. Rao's call "My Egg, My Price, My Life" consequently brought farmers onto a united platform and realized this objective.May 1982NECC was formally registered under the Societies Registration Act. In line with its democratic principles, it was registered as a trust and on May 14th 1982 NECC started declaring egg prices.