Poultry industry in Sri Lanka

About 70% of the contribution to livestock sub-sector in Sri Lanka comes from chicken meat and eggs. With the current purchasing levels of consumers, the industry is capable of producing considerable amount of local requirements of chicken meat and eggs, which is relatively cheap compared to other animal products. Poultry products have now made the most consumed animal protein source in the average Sri Lankan diets. As the industry today is in the hands of the private sector, the role of the state is confined mostly for implementation of poultry health management programs, research and policy development for further consolidation of the industry.

The village chicken contributes about 15% to the national egg production. They are mainly reared for the egg production as they are having low growth rates. The village chicken are reared both in the rural and semi urban areas. However, they are found very frequently in rural villages of Sri Lanka. The average flock size varies from 5-10 birds. More importantly, there are no commercial-level village chicken productions using intensive management practices as people do with exotic breeds. Birds are set free to scavenge during the day and kept in small houses in the night. According to the observations, house wives and children frequently have the responsibility in looking after the animals.

At present, the poultry industry in Sri Lanka is growing as a lucrative sector despite minor constraints. With the current purchasing levels of consumers, the industry is capable of producing considerable amount of local requirements of chicken meat and eggs. Being the cheapest sources of animal proteins, chicken meat and eggs have contributed largely to animal protein requirement of the people. The government declared chicken meat as an essential food commodity in 2006.