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Decision to import chicken to reduce local prices: Minister
A decision was taken at the Cost-of-Living Committee meeting to import chicken if the local price per kilo of chicken is not reduced, Trade Minister Nalin Fernando said.
He told the media that a Cost-of-Living Committee meeting was held recently under the patronage of the President, and he took this decision with the target of providing chicken and eggs to the people in the country at concessionary prices.
The President also advised taking immediate measures to increase poultry production and to import parent chicken while providing benefits to the people in the country.
The President had claimed that the price of a kilo of chicken had increased to a maximum of Rs. 1,450 whereas the earlier price had been around Rs. 450.
Therefore, the President especially advised importing chicken for industrial purposes with the aim of reducing the prices in the local market, the Trade Minister said.
"As an initial measure, we informed the Agriculture Ministry to inform the local chicken producers about the government's decision and to take immediate action to reduce chicken prices," he said.
The decision in this regard will be announced next week, the Minister said.
"After the decision to import eggs, the Ministry was unable to import eggs during the past months. But we had several discussions on importing eggs via a Cabinet sub-committee.
"Accordingly, a decision was taken last week to distribute the imported eggs through the Sathosa and other related outlets.
"Therefore, we believe the local egg price will come down if the current egg distribution continues for the next two weeks," Minister Nalin Fernando said. (Chaturanga Pradeep Samarawickrama)
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