Sri Lanka State Trading Corporation (STC) yesterday said that imported eggs are currently being distributed only among bakery owners at a special low price for manufacturing bakery products and if bakery owners sell these eggs to private traders, providing eggs to such bakery owners will be suspended immediately.
According to a recent survey, some bakery owners are selling the eggs that are received by them to private traders.
STC Chairman Asiri Walisundara told the Daily News that these imported eggs are sold to bakery owners at a low cost in order to provide a continuous supply of bakery products to consumers. He warned bakery owners to refrain from selling imported eggs to private traders since the Government needs to strengthen the local poultry industry. He further said the Government will curtail the egg imports shortly when the local poultry industry shows progress.
Meanwhile, All Ceylon Egg Manufacturers Association (ACEMA) Chairman Sarath Ratnayaka said the unbearable prices of maize and soya have resulted the high chicken and egg prices in the open market these days.
He said in addition vitamins used for thier poultry have also been increased and the Government should consider this situation.
According to the Consumer Affairs Authority (CAA), the maximum retail price of a white egg is Rs.43 while a brown egg should be sold at Rs.45.
“Even Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera also recognized the problems faced by poultry farmers due to the shortage of poultry foods,” he said.
He said the Minister has advised officials to encourage farmers to cultivate more maize and soya bean even in abandoned paddy fields since they are the major cattle food.
According to reports, there are over 5,000 large-scale poultry farms in the country owned by companies and also individuals.
A leading poultry farm owner from Chilaw John Fernando said most poultry farmers are now producing high quality eggs as there is a great demand for such eggs which are highly nutritious.
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