Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture and Fisheries Francis Agius yesterday distributed financial aid to poultry producers, amounting to Lm38,180 (e88,935.48) for broiler producers and Lm127,341 (e296,624.74) for the layers sector.

Last year the broilers and layers sectors received in total Lm968,281 (e2,255,488.00).

Dr Agius noted that the poultry sector, although going through considerable restructuring, was retaining its market share and even raising production.

According to the National Statistics Office, he pointed out, broiler production had gone up by 11.3 per cent and there had also been a rise of 2.2 per cent in beef production.