ASIA : Commercial egg laying production

Tourism has fostered the overall growth of the economy of the Maldives, a string of 26 natural atolls in the Indian Ocean. But the impact on much of the population has been limited as the tourist resorts are not on those islands where the native communities live. Tourism has admittedly boosted fledgling traditional cottage industries, but has also increased imports of products demanded by tourists, meaning that the country is becoming less self-sufficient by the day.

BLCF supported the start-up phase of the project with a grant of £150,000 against a private sector contribution of £416,000. Led by partner, Island Chicks, the project aimed to replace the import of 99.5 % of all eggs, via local producers who would deliver over 50,000 local eggs per day, from neighbouring islands where 108 people were living on less than $1 a day. This was accompanied by two commercial egg laying units with smaller island production centres on other islands, which would also benefit from the training, input supplies and marketing coordinated by the commercial units.

Other opportunities created through the project included local fishermen selling cargo space to transport eggs, local carpenters selling wood shavings for rearing houses, and manure being sold to a local fertiliser manufacturer. There is now also potential for local wholesalers and retailers to import feed, chicks and vaccine, and for processed fish by-products to be used in chicken feed production.

The tsunami, concerns over the avian flu epidemic, and the political reform agenda initially delayed the project. However a commercial scale unit is now functional in Maandhoo Island, supported by the private sector. Commercial laying units with their bio-secure separate rearing and laying sections have been established. A larger scale commercial unit is underway in the island of Maadheli , and local entrepreneurs are establishing their own laying units with professional advice and technical assistance from Island Chicks.

Precautionary measures have been taken on avian influenza and technical visits made to the largest integrated poultry operations in Sri Lanka and India. The competition between the island production centres is set to encourage production efficiency, profitability and consequently sustainability.

For more information contact BLCF fund manager, the Emerging Markets Group at this address