Government to regulate poultry industry sector

Walter LIYANARACHCHI

REGISTRATION: Considering the non-availability of reliable data on numbers and locations of commercial layer, broiler, and backyard farms in this country in any national level database, the Department of Animal Production and Health has taken measures to register the poultry farms scattered throughout the country before December 15.

The Director General of the Department Dr. S.K.R. Amarasakeara had directed all the authorities concerned in this regard and said after registration a number and a certificate will be given to the registered poultry farm owners by the respective Govt.Veterinary Surgeon.

With a rapidly increasing participation of the private sector, the industry has shown a rapid progress particularly from the year 1990 onwards. The growth was more prominent in the broiler sector, but less remarkable in the layer sector, a Department spokesman said.

A directive sent to all relevant authorities says at present the output of poultry products is around 900 million eggs and 65,000 metric tons of chicken meat annually, out of which about 80 mt of chicken meat and 1.2 million eggs are exported.

The industry provides employment to about 75,000 persons directly and to about one million people indirectly. Those indirectly involved include feed producers and millers who supply inputs to the industry.

Thus, while the industry is of great economic importance to the country, it also makes a significant contribution nutritionally, being a source of high quality protein preferred by a large majority of the population.

Together with these benefits, the expansion of the industry has also brought about some undesirable effects, specially the threat from diseases, against which various preventive and control measures have to be adopted.

There is a considerable risk of such a disease gaining entry to Sri Lanka through migratory birds, legal and illegal imports and international passengers visiting the country.

Introduction of such a disease to Sri Lanka and its possible spread can result in a socio-economic disaster in the poultry sector, if it is not controlled and eliminated at source.

Negative influences resulting from depressed demand will affect all the persons employed in the chain from producers of feed ingredients through poultry producers and processors to retailers of poultry products as well as consumers who will be confronted with escalating prices of substitutes like fish.

The directive also says that in view of above, the Department of Animal Production and Health is taking all precautions to prevent the entry of such diseases to Sri Lanka. It has also developed a preparedness plan to control and eradicate such diseases, in case there is an unfortunate incursion.

The plan, in respect of HPAI in particular, includes an effective disease surveillance programme to serve as an early warning system, the establishment of District Emergency Teams and Depopulation/Decontamination/Disinfection Teams and a scheme to compensate the owners whose poultry may have to be compulsorily slaughtered as a control measure in case the disease gains entry into the country.

According to the proposal submitted to the Cabinet in respect of the compensation scheme, the amount of compensation to each poultry owner will be recommended by the Depopulation Team and approved by a team comprising the District Veterinary Surgeon, the Government Veterinary Surgeon (GVS) and a representative of the Divisional Secretary of the area.