Sri Lanka’a poultry industry is now rocked by after effects of Easter terror following the government’s inaction in providing redress for affected farmers, producers and consumers who are losing confidence on the present administration for its all talk no action attitude.
At a time where Sri Lankan poultry producers are uniquely positioned to continue making unprecedented contributions to the nation with healthy citizens and a healthy economy, recent crippling blow on hotel sector and consumers at large is now about to knock out all stakeholders of the industry.
The ever increasing popularity of chicken meat as a daily staple in most Sri Lankan diets has been well underway over recent decades with the country projected to consume as much as 189,690 Metric Tonnes (MT) of chicken, projecting an annual growth rate of 3%.
This situation has changed overnight with the normal 50 percent demand from hoteliers for chicken had been vanished after the terror attack with general consumers tend to think twice in buying chicken meat and eggs with fear psychosis.
As a result of the current collapse of the poultry industry, the wholesale price of a hen had come down from Rs 70 to Rs 35, he said. Around one million employees earning a livelihood from the industry are currently facing severe economic difficulties.
Chairman of the All-Island Poultry Association (AIPA), Ajith Gunasekera said the suppliers of meat, eggs and other poultry products are facing severe economic hard ships at present.
The government’s only concern on the tourism sector affected by extremist terrorism, but it has completely ignored the other affected sectors of the economy.
Due to the declining demand for chicken and eggs, they have been forced to get rid of around 40 per cent of their chicks and hens to minimize cost of maintenance, he said.
(LNW)