Egg production increasing by 600,000 per month amidst drop in feed cost

Industry fears disaster if price drops below Rs 30

By Rathindra Kuruwita

Egg production in Sri Lanka is rapidly rising but the price of eggs will not increase until December, Secretary of the All-Ceylon Egg Producers’ Association (ACEPA), Rathnasri Alahakoon says.

The layer poultry farming had recovered from its slump in 2022 and that from late 2023, production has been increasing by 600,000 a month, Alahakoon said.

“Actually, there is a risk of the price dropping Rs 30, which will be disastrous to the industry. We have asked the government to include an egg in the mid-day meal programme or explore the possibility of exporting eggs,” he said.

Chairman of ACEPA, R. M. Sarath Rathnayake said that the cost of feed for chicken, too, has dropped from about 240 rupees a kilo in 2022 to about 180 rupees now.

“If the farmer gets 40 rupees, we can sustainably continue the industry. If the price drops to about 35 rupees small and medium scale egg producers will be in serious trouble,” he said.

Rathnayake said in the last year the government has imported excessive amounts of parent birds and by the beginning of 2025, there will be an excess of eggs and chicks.

“You will see people selling eggs on the roads like they used to do during COVID,” he said.