COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The Ministry of Agriculture has expressed concerns over a potential decline in egg prices, cautioning that if the price of an egg falls below 36-37 rupees, it could lead to the collapse of the local poultry industry.
Speaking on the issue, Agriculture Ministry Secretary M.P. Nishantha Wickramasinghe emphasized that maintaining a stable price range is crucial to sustaining the industry. He explained that the majority of egg production costs are driven by the price of chicken feed, particularly maize, which accounts for about 80% of the feed cost.
Wickramasinghe further noted that efforts are underway to reduce the cost of chicken feed, which could eventually bring the price of eggs down to 29-30 rupees. However, with the current production cost estimated between 32 and 33 rupees per egg, the secretary stressed that any significant drop in the market price could create financial challenges for producers, potentially leading to a collapse of the industry.
The Ministry is exploring strategies to stabilize feed prices and support egg producers to ensure long-term sustainability of the industry.
