Import of chicken solves crisis
Although the import of chicken has helped solve the crisis in the
poultry industry to a great extent it has created a surplus of stock
which has affected small scale farmers.
All-Island Poultry Association, Chairman Dr. D.D. Wanasinghe said
that though the import of chicken has helped maintain a controlled price
a glut has been created in the market adversely affecting small and
medium scale poultry farmers in the country.
He said around two million people are directly employed in the
poultry industry and added that around 20 percent of the small scale
farmers have already abandoned their livelihood due to the crisis.
 “Small scale poultry farmers are the first to be affected when a glut
is created in the market.They have to dispose of the stock daily since
they do not have proper storage facilities”, Dr. Wanasinghe said.
“A minus 80 centigrade temperature is needed if chicken is to be
stored for over two weeks”, Dr. Wanasinghe said. Sri Lanka produces
around 10,000 MT of chicken a month while the requirement is around
850,000 MT.
The Government imported around 540 MT of chicken and is contemplating
to import around 5200 MT in due course.The decision to import chicken
has been hailed by consumers as a sound move to avert further escalation
of the price of chicken.
The Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA) has imposed a maximum retail
price of Rs. 350 per kilogram of unskinned chicken. Retailers could sell
skinned and cut chicken at a higher price.
“The Association is concerned about the tax free import of chicken
while the industry is taxed Rs. 57 per kilo of chicken which is included
in the controlled price of Rs. 350”, Dr. Wanasinghe said.
Many retailers do not adhere to the controlled price and as a result
the price of chicken is still high. A kilogram of chicken is around Rs.
420 in many retail shops.
“An excess of two million kilograms of chicken has been accumulated
for the past two weeks in the processors and cold rooms. Small scale
poultry farmers will be in a precarious situation if the import of
chicken is not stopped”, Dr. Wanasinghe said.
“The Association is not happy with the import of chicken since it
will create a glut in the market and affect the poultry sector”, he
said.
Dr. Wanasinghe said that the Ministry of Livestock Development has
been apprised of several occasions about the unhealthy situation in the
poultry industry but to no avail.The poultry industry is given
step-motherly treatment.
“The import of chicken from Avian flu affected countries has an
element of risk in the spread of the disease in Sri Lanka”, he said. A
large number of flu affected birds had to be destroyed in many countries
that were hit by the deadly virus. The disease is spread mostly by
migratory birds. Health officials need to be vigilant about the spread
of the disease in the country. - LF
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