Imported eggs in Sri Lanka's markets; local industry at peril

(January 07, 2010) Sri Lanka Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando says that a stock of three million eggs were to be cleared from the ports today and 70 million eggs have been ordered to control the escalating price of eggs at local markets.

He denied the allegations of the opposition and the local poultry associations that the imported eggs are not suitable for consumption.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the All Lanka Poultry Industry Union Dr. D.D. Wanasinghe stated that the price of the locally produced eggs would go down by next week not because of the imports but the increase of production and decrease of demand.

He charged that the government measures to import eggs would affect the local poultry industry. He further accused that the Ministry of Veterinary Resources had not focussed attention to save the industry.

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Posted in Dr. D.D. Wanasinghe , Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando , poultry

Sri Lanka importing chicken from Brazil

(July 01, 2010) The controlled price of a kilo of chicken is Rs. 350 but it is often sold at higher prices scot-free. Chicken price has escalated despite price control as the traders have raised prices of the products with value addition.

Giving up the self-imposed price control on chicken, Sri Lanka government has decided to import 3000 metric tons of chicken to balance the shortage in the market and to regulate the escalating prices.

Sri Lanka presently produces only 9000 metric tons of chicken per annum while the annual consumption is 12,000 metric tons.

The Minister of Cooperatives and Internal Trade Johnston Fernando says that the government will maintain the monopoly of importing chicken to protect the local producer and to regulate the market.

The imports are to be made from Brazil. Cooperative Wholesale Establishment (CWE) is to market the imported chicken via its network of outlets.

Sri Lanka's poultry industry is highly dependent of imported inputs that cause inevitable escalation of production cost.

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Posted in Brazil , chicken , poultry , price control , Sri Lanka