The All Island Poultry Association warns that the price of chicken and egg will increase further amidst a shortage of animal feed.
Speaking to NewsRadio Chairman Ajith H Gunasekera said the industry that had reached export level, will collapse due to the animal feed shortage.
The price of an egg in the market is currently at between Rs.45-50 and a kilogram of chicken is being sold at Rs.1,200.
Gunasekera said USD 350 million is required annually to secure animal feed, and requested the government to facilitate USD 30 million in the least to source a month’s requirement of animal feed for poultry farmers.
He added poultry farmers have lost faith in the industry and have given up on breeding due to the lack of animal feed.
Gunasekera claimed the cheapest protein available is egg and chicken, noting that with the increase in prices of fish the lack of nutritious food is leading to protein deficiencies especially in children.
