Chaminda PERERA
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that the government has planned to export 5,000 Mt tons of chicken this year for the first time.
He said that the country has recorded a surplus of maize and paddy production and excess of maize would be used for the production of poultry products.The minister was addressing a press conference at the Economic Development Ministry yesterday.
The minister said the country imported chicken an year ago and that the situation has changed with the launch of the Divi Neguma programme.
Minister Rajapaksa said that the government has decided to release a portion of paddy surplus from stores to be donated to Somalia. He said the government's aim is to build a family which can stand on its own.
"We want to provide electricity, water and other basic facilities for every household", he said.
The minister said that equal focus has also been laid on the health sector. The country had a doctor for 2,779 people in 2000 but now 1,443 people have one doctor, he said.
The minister also said that the prices of vegetables, rice and other essential items have dropped drastically.
Minister Rajapaksa added that a family can save Rs, 100 - Rs 300 a day due to this price decrease.
He said that the country spends US$ 50 million for the import of dry chillies . He said the ministry expects to boost the production of dry chillies to save expenditure for exports. Finance Ministry Secretary Dr. P. B. Jayasundera said the benefits of the country's economic growth should reach all segments equally.He said that the Divi Neguma programme is aimed at overall development in every household.
http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/01/26/news31.asp
Producers skeptical of Govt. plans to export chicken this year
By Lal Gunesekera
Poultry producers are skeptical about the Government’s plans to export 5,000 tonnes of chicken this year and about its claims of a surplus in maize production.
Industry sources told The Island that a field survey had shown that there was a sufficient quantity of chicken at the moment, but it predicted a marginal shortage due to the influx of tourists into the country and taking into account the expected high demand in the April Sinhala and Tamil New Year period. The production at the moment was 10,000 tonnes a month and local demand was increasing.
Poultry producers said that they were finding it difficult to get their requirements of maize for poultry feed production and they had approached the Treasury for import permits for about 20,000 tonnes of maize until the next harvest in March. The requirement was 225,000 tons of maize per year, and there was no excess of the grain at present.
The President of the All-Island Poultry Association (AIPA) Dr. D. D. Wanasinghe said that the AIPA would extend its fullest support to the Government to export chicken.
There was a shortage of maize resulting in it fetching a high price of Rs. 42 to Rs. 45 per kilo.
At that price it was difficult to keep to the maximum retail price of Rs. 350 per kilo of chicken. They were prepared to discuss matters further with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa to work a scheme for the chicken exports to materialize, Dr. Wanasinghe said.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=44029
By Lal Gunesekera
Poultry producers are skeptical about the Government’s plans to export 5,000 tonnes of chicken this year and about its claims of a surplus in maize production.
Industry sources told The Island that a field survey had shown that there was a sufficient quantity of chicken at the moment, but it predicted a marginal shortage due to the influx of tourists into the country and taking into account the expected high demand in the April Sinhala and Tamil New Year period. The production at the moment was 10,000 tonnes a month and local demand was increasing.
Poultry producers said that they were finding it difficult to get their requirements of maize for poultry feed production and they had approached the Treasury for import permits for about 20,000 tonnes of maize until the next harvest in March. The requirement was 225,000 tons of maize per year, and there was no excess of the grain at present.
The President of the All-Island Poultry Association (AIPA) Dr. D. D. Wanasinghe said that the AIPA would extend its fullest support to the Government to export chicken.
There was a shortage of maize resulting in it fetching a high price of Rs. 42 to Rs. 45 per kilo.
At that price it was difficult to keep to the maximum retail price of Rs. 350 per kilo of chicken. They were prepared to discuss matters further with Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa to work a scheme for the chicken exports to materialize, Dr. Wanasinghe said.
http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=44029
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