Sri Lanka is confronting a severe maize shortage, forcing producers to buy raw materials at sharply higher prices and increasing reliance on imports, the All Ceylon Egg Producers Association (ACEPA) warned.
The shortage is expected to affect not only the poultry sector but also Thriposha, the government’s long-standing nutritional supplement distributed to mothers and children.
ACEPA Secretary Ratnasiri Alahakoon said that the country requires 650,000 metric tonnes (MT) of maize annually, while domestic production yields only 250,000–300,000 MT.
Producers are compelled to purchase maize at Rs. 180–190 per kilogram for animal feed, a cost Alahakoon described as unsustainable for the poultry industry.
The remaining demand must be met through imports.
Alahakoon also noted that the issue has not been extensively addressed with the Agriculture Ministry despite its wide-reaching implications.
“Maize is essential not only for animal feed but also for producing Thriposha. Any shortage will affect both the livestock industry and the country’s nutritional support programmes,” he said.
He added that if the maize deficit persists, rising feed costs could trigger increases in egg, poultry, and livestock prices, placing additional pressure on consumers.
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