THE poultry industry is inefficient, a supermarket chain store has said in a letter to the Ministry of Trade.
Food4Less supermarket managing director Rudra Prasad said local poultry producers enjoyed a protection from imported chicken, through tariffs imposed to protect the industry as well as a ban on imports from cheaper sources.
"Supporting an inefficient industry with high tariff protection and blocking efficient producers out of the local market has created a monopolistic situation in the market at the expense of our consumers," he said in his letter dated April 23.
Several attempts to reach the permanent secretary for Trade Shaheen Ali proved futile and questions sent to him remained unanswered.