The All Ceylon Poultry Product Manufacturers Association (ACPPMA) yesterday expressed concern over the day today price increase of chicken and eggs in the open market and said unless taking measures to reduce the already increased Value Added Tax (VAT) on imported poultry food and vitamins the price of chicken and eggs will have to be further increased by 40 during the forthcoming X’mas and new year seasons.
Speaking to Daily News Business ACPPMA, President Ajith Gunasekara said their association is unhappy over the Government’s decision of imposing a controlled price on chicken and eggs and said even without knowing the actual price of poultry food such as maize and vitamins in the open market it is not ethical to introduce a controlled price for chicken and eggs.
He said such unethical decisions should not be taken by authorities while being in air-onditioned rooms in Colombo and these officials should visit poultry farms to see the grievances of poultry farmers. He cautioned the Government that unless reducing the VAT on poultry food and medicines the price of chicken and eggs cannot be reduced but would have to be increased.
He said although the Government made an announcement over the fixed prices for eggs and chicken the countrywide super markets were selling only chicken parts and ultimately a kilo of full chicken had exceeded over Rs. 1,700.
He said even the price of an egg packet which contains 10 eggs is sold between Rs. 160 to Rs. 170 at certain supermarkets in Colombo and suburban areas. He asked authorities why the Government has not taken any step to stop such selling and always go behind small boutiques and grocery shops. He again urged the Government to reduce the already increased VAT on poultry foods and vitamins, so that the prices of eggs and chicken could be reduced.
Meanwhile, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera highlighted the unbearable prices of chicken and eggs in the market and said steps will be taken to cultivate maize which is highly used by poultry farmers. Gunasekara further said after five months chickens start laying eggs and sufficient maize is needed to maintain poultry farms during that period.