COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is now self-sufficient in egg production, eliminating the need for further imports, according to Sri Lanka Egg Producers’ Association Executive Director S.M. Premaratne.
He said that the Government should support the poultry industry to sustain its growth.
He was speaking at a meeting of the Kurunegala district poultry farmers at the Kurunegala Youth Training Centre. “At present, poultry farmers in the Kurunegala district sell eggs to wholesale traders at Rs. 23 each. Over the past six months, 75,000 new small-scale poultry farmers have entered the industry, contributing significantly to local egg production,” Premaratne said.
The poultry industry directly and indirectly employs approximately 900,000 people, while around 500,000 families rely on it as a primary source of income. Premaratne called upon the Government to provide further assistance to ensure the industry’s profitability.
For years, Sri Lanka spent Rs. 6 billion in foreign exchange to import eggs. With local production now sufficient to meet the demand, this expenditure is being redirected towards national welfare. However, the current surplus of eggs has caused retail prices to drop significantly, with eggs now selling at Rs. 27 each in the open market.
Despite this achievement, poultry farmers are facing rising costs. High taxes on imported raw materials for poultry feed, increasing veterinary expenses, labour, and transport charges are making egg production expensive.
“These challenges are dampening the positive aspirations of poultry farmers,” Premaratne said.
Around 10,000 unemployed youth are waiting to set up poultry farms at village level this year. Falling egg prices have also led to a decline in chicken meat prices, with a kilogram now costing Rs. 600 in the open market.
Premaratne called upon to the Government to introduce further concessions for poultry farmers to ensure the industry’s sustainability while improving the livelihoods of those dependent on it.
