September 14, 2022

Sri Lanka agriculture minister calls for programme to protect local poultry sector

Sri Lanka's Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, has instructed officials of the relevant ministries to prepare a joint programme immediately to protect the country's egg and poultry industry.

The Ministry of Agriculture, headed by Secretary Rohana Pushpakumara of the Department of Animal Production and Health and the Consumer Affairs Authority, will jointly prepare the programme.

Industrialists have told Amaraweera that, due to the publication of a gazette by the Consumer Affairs Authority announcing a control price for eggs, their industry is now facing the threat of total collapse.

The egg and poultry industry faces challenges from a shortage of animal feed, an increase in feed prices, and the increase in the prices of medicines and vitamins given to animals, industry associations pointed out.

Additionally, the industrialists noted that the amount of hens imported was 80,000 in 2021, but had decreased to 7,000 this year.

By last July, the production of eggs in Sri Lanka had decreased to 164 million and the production of chicken had decreased to 18 tonnes.

 - Colombo Page