Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2019-08-13

Importation of additional quantity of Maize required for animal feeding

- It has been identified that there exists the need for the import of 80,000 MT of maize for animal food production as a result of the production in 2019 being insufficient, As such, the proposal made by the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Irrigation and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development firstly, for the National Food Promotion Board to import 50,000 MT of maize on the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Irrigation and Fisheries & Aquatic Resources Development and distribute on the demand of the companies engaged in animal production, secondly, to grant permission for Animal Food Producers and Poultry Entrepreneurs registered with the Department Animal Production and Health to import by themselves the balance requirement of maize for 2019 before the 31st of January 2020 upon the recommendation made by the Department of Animal Production and Health based on the quantity of animal food produced by each company and the animals to be reared and to impose a Special Trade Levy of Rs.10/- per kg of maize and also to introduce a methodology to induce farmers to undertake maize cultivation and provide them with seeds free of charge, was approved by the Cabinet.