Poultry industry cries foul over Govt’s corn import suspension

• Poultry industry says it has surplus chicken
• Seeks Govt. assistance to export to China and Middle East
• Concerned corn import halt will affect export plans 
• Plans to offer input for upcoming Cabinet Paper 

The poultry industry yesterday expressed concern over the Government’s decision to halt the import of corn as it may hinder their plans to increase the export of chicken to the Chinese and Middle Eastern markets. 

The Government yesterday declared that measures had been taken to halt the import of corn and peanuts with effect from 1 January. Irrigation and Rural Development State Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said that the Government made the decision in order to uplift the rural economy and empower small-scale farmers. 

Abeywardena said that the Government was of the view that any grain that could be grown locally should not be imported. Unless there was shortage of corn and peanuts, they would not be imported, he asserted. 

All Island Poultry Association of Sri Lanka (AIPASL) Advisor Mathalee Jayasekara told the Daily FT that industry stakeholders had met the Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry yesterday to discuss issues pertaining to the industry.  

“We currently have a surplus of chicken and are planning to export to the Chinese and Middle Eastern markets,” he said, pointing out that if the import of corn, an essential component of chicken feed, was stopped it would impact the export plans. 

“Corn makes up at least 45-50% of good chicken feed. On average, we need at least six metric tonnes of corn a month to make chicken feed and local farmers don’t produce enough to meet our demands,” he said, pointing out that the import of corn was essential for an industry where most producers fall into the small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) category. 

Jayasekara argued that if the Government reduced the tax imposed on the industry, they could compete with regional producers such as Thailand and seek markets in China and the Middle East. He said the meeting with the Agriculture Department was productive and that the association was requested to submit information which would be used to draft a Cabinet Paper.