Govt considers maize imports to stabilize prices and meet demand

By Chaminda Silva

The government is considering maize imports to meet the growing demand for animal feed production and other industries, Minister of Livestock, Land, and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha said.Speaking at a meeting of the Ministerial Consultative Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation held at the Parliamentary complex, the Minister said that Sri Lanka had imported approximately 275,000 metric tons of maize for animal feed between 2024 and January 31, 2025.

However, officials informed the committee that the country’s annual maize requirement stands at 600,000 metric tons, which cannot be fulfilled through local production alone.

The Minister raised concerns over maize hoarding by certain traders, who have been stockpiling locally produced maize by purchasing it at Rs. 130-140 per kilo, with the intent to sell it at Rs. 200 per kilo during the Sinhala and Tamil New Year season. Animal feed manufacturers warned that such market manipulation could drive up the prices of eggs and poultry.

To counteract these practices and regulate prices, the government is considering resuming maize imports as a price stabilization measure, a move welcomed by maize-related producers. The Advisory Committee also stressed the importance of ensuring import opportunities for small and medium-scale businesses if imports proceed.

Discussions at the Food Policy and Security Committee focused on increasing the maize cultivation area to 20,000 hectares and granting approval for maize imports after April 1, specifically for animal feed production. Additionally, attention was drawn to existing irrigation challenges in the country, with the committee chairperson emphasizing that special attention will be paid to resolving irrigation issues in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

Ministers, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Lands and Irrigation Dr. Susil Ranasinghe, MPs including Committee Members, officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation were present at this meeting.