Small scale poultry farmers, in both, the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts of the NWP are faced with a dilemma as they are unable to sell their eggs at a reasonable price at present, as the grocers and wholesale traders offer very low prices for their eggs. The increase in the number of poultry farmers engaged in the egg industry has boosted production by leaps and bounds, leading to the supply exceeding the demand.
As a result, about 6,000 small-scale poultry farmers in the NWP are badly affected and unable to maintain their self employment projects of poultry farming in a profitable manner. S.M.Premaratne, President, Kurunegala District Small Scale Poultry Farmers’ Association told the Sunday Observer, Thursday, (21) that the purchasing price of an egg is around Rs.11.50 and that private traders always try to buy at Rs.7 or Rs.8.
The cost of production of eggs is high due to the increasing price of raw materials used for manufacturing poultry feed, veterinary services, drugs, labour charges, transport charges and so on.
There is no proper marketing facility for their eggs. Private traders are now exploiting their labour and the products . Although they have made known their plight to higher authorities such as, the Minister of Rural Economy, Chief Minister of the NWP-PC, and Cabinet Ministers of the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts, so far, no positive action has been taken to grant them any relief, Premaratne said.
“We are neglected and isolated by the authorities, even though we contribute considerably, to the progress of the country’s economy.
We provide nutritional meals to the nation while surviving on our own without being a burden to the Government. Nearly 200,000 persons have found employment directly and indirectly as a result of our commitment to the poultry industry.
We appeal to President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to help us in our plight, and save the poultry farming industry from collapse.
Our families will lose their livelihood, while the rural economy would decline beyond revival if the present trend of small scale poultry farmers goes unheeded, Premaratne pointed out.