November 11, 2013

The Sri Lankan Ministry of Economic Development announced that the country has taken measures to be self-sufficient in the production of chicken eggs by 2014 and will take measure to cease egg imports.

The Divi Neguma National Programme, launched by the ministry under the president's future vision programme, has been declared a success in producing sufficient eggs for public consumption, the ministry said. 

According to the ministry, the Divi Neguma programme will provide each poultry farmers with 10 one-month-old chickens. Currently, 1.1 million chickens have been distributed among farmers. Steps have been taken to distribute 600,000 more chickens among Divi Neguma beneficiaries at a cost of US$2.3 million, following the commencement of Divi Neguma Phase Five on October 11.

The programme is reportedly more successful in the Nuwara Eliya and Kurunegala Districts where there is a great demand for chickens.

Sri Lanka has become self-sufficient in rice, corn and soy, under the agricultural programmes implemented by the government.