BAU Correspondent:
The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA) has urged the government to allocate special funds for the poultry sector in the 2025–26 national budget, emphasizing the industry’s vital role in food security, employment generation, and the national economy.
In an official statement issued on Wednesday (June 18), BPIA President Shah Habibul Haque underscored the need for government support to ensure fair pricing of poultry meat and eggs, protect jobs, and make safe animal protein accessible to the public.
According to BPIA, the poultry industry has grown into a Tk 50,000 crore sector, directly and indirectly employing around 60 lakh people. Over the last 40 years, it has expanded steadily thanks to investment, innovation, and entrepreneurial effort, becoming a pillar of both rural livelihoods and national economic progress.
However, the industry is currently facing immense pressure due to rising production costs, driven by global economic instability and the steep appreciation of the US dollar. Increased prices of feed, chicks, vaccines, and medicines have forced many small and medium-sized farms to shut down. BPIA warned that, without intervention, this could lead to shortages of eggs and chicken in local markets.
To stabilize the sector and benefit both producers and consumers, BPIA outlined six key proposals for inclusion in the upcoming budget:
1. Technology Access and Soft Loans:
Provision of soft loans through specialized banks for registered layer and broiler farms to adopt modern technology.
2. Egg Storage Infrastructure:
Establishment of modern storage facilities in major egg-producing districts to minimize losses during periods of low demand, such as Ramadan and Eid. A pilot project with block funding was also recommended.
3. Easier Access to Power Rebates:
Simplification of the existing 20% electricity rebate process, allowing eligibility based on trade licenses, DLS registration, and BPIA inspection reports, with oversight from the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).
4. District-Level Business Centers:
Setting up ‘Poultry Product Business Centers’ to allow farmers to sell directly and reduce reliance on intermediaries, with necessary infrastructure backed by budget allocation.
5. Disaster Relief for Poultry Farmers:
Block allocation for farmers affected by floods or heavy rains to help them resume production and maintain protein supply stability.
6. Duty Reductions on Key Imports:
Despite recent tariff relief through an SRO (No. 203, issued May 29, 2025), BPIA noted that high tariffs still apply to several essential items under different HS codes. The association called for further review and duty waivers to cut production costs.
“Our poultry farmers are working tirelessly despite economic shocks and natural disasters to ensure a steady supply of affordable protein,” said BPIA President Haque. “If we are to sustain the country’s development, the national budget must prioritize the poultry sector.”
