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A progress review meeting was held in the morning today (23) at the Department of Animal production and Health chaired by the Minister of Agriculture Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Mahinda.Amaraweera. At this meeting discussions were mainly centered on the future development activities of local fresh milk industry and chicken production industry in Sri Lanka.
State Minister of Agriculture Mohan De Silva and the Director of that Department Dr.(Mrs.) K.A.C.H.A.Kothalawala also participated in the discussion at which it was revealed that although the country was achieving near self sufficiency in poultry productions, mainly chicken and egg production in the resent past, prevailing economic crisis couple with sky-rocketing prices of animal feeds and drugs, the industry was heavily affected leading to the reduction of importation of mother animals in poultry farming from 80,000 to 10,000.
Mr.Mahinda Amaraweera further stated that action would be taken to submit a Cabinet Memorandum to inform the Cabinet on the formulation of a short term, middle term and long term programme aimed at bringing the situation under control. “It is essential to increase Fresh Milk production, Eggs and Chicken production without which it will not be possible to enhance nutrition position of the people of Sri Lanka”. Therefore, the Minister stated that a programme will be lunched from this cultivation season itself to produce maize and soya locally to support animal feed production industry.
Stating further the Minister said, “we can’t be satisfied with the prevailing situation relating eggs and chicken production in Sri Lanka. Therefore, a programme has to be formulated immediately to prevent further collapsing of this bad situation. As standard of eggs and chicken production in Sri Lanka being at the highest level, we are in a position to earn dollars within a short period of 45 days if the production of the same could be increased.
