Use of maize in ethanol production leads to egg and poultry price hike – AIEPA

By Kurulu Koojana Kariyakarawana

The use of maize in large quantities for the local ethanol production in the liquor industry has led to a severe price hike in egg and poultry products, as pointed out by the All Island Egg Producers Association (AIEPA) yesterday.   

A representative from the AIEPA said that they have received credible information that use of maize in large quantities for ethanol production would create a scarcity of the grain for poultry food, thus leading to a price hike in chicken and eggs.   

Treasurer AIEPA Vijaya Alwis told a media briefing yesterday that although Sri Lanka has an annual demand of 600, 000 metric tons for maize, only a supply of 200, 000 – 300, 000 metric tons is produced by the farmers.   
Out of this a major portion is allocated for human consumption and very little is left for the poultry food industry.   
But latest information has revealed that out of the said annual maize production 50 metric tons is used for ethanol production, Alwis said.   

“The annual supply of maize is not even sufficient for the country’s annual human consumption, thus measures have to be made to import them for a higher cost. It is questionable whether stocks have to be imported even for future ethanol production,” Alwis pointed out.