Poultry farmers asking for fair prices

S. M. Wijeratne Kurunegala corr.

Poultry farmers in the Kurunegala district are requesting the Government officials to take steps in providing raw materials at fair prices to maintain their farms profitably.

The farmers say that the cost of poultry feed and other veterinary drugs have gone up drastically.

Private firms who are supplying poultry feed and drugs, monopolize the industry to a great extent.

"There are more than 4,500 small scale poultry farmers in the North Western Province and a lot of unemployed youth have begun these poultry farms as a good source of self employment," Kurunegala Poultry Farmers' Association President S. M. Pemaratne said.

The NWP-PC Agricultural Ministry has launched a free service veterinary expertise and 50 experienced Vet Surgeons have been called upon for this purpose.