Instability in DOC production threatens poultry sector
Business Report :
Bangladesh’s poultry sector-one of the fastest-growing agricultural industries in the country-is facing a critical threat due to the instability in the production of Day-Old Chicks (DOCs). Experts raised this concern during the closing ceremony of a three-day training programme on ‘Hatchery Management’, held recently at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka.
The training, organised under the PoultryTechBangladesh initiative, was designed to build technical capacity among hatchery owners, managers, and workers. It focused on aligning Bangladesh’s hatchery practices with international standards through modern techniques and technology.
Speakers at the event highlighted that fluctuations in chicken prices significantly affect DOC production. When market prices rise, hatcheries ramp up DOC production to maximise profit, which later leads to oversupply, a drop in prices, and reduced profitability. On the other hand, when prices fall, production is curtailed, resulting in shortages of broilers and eggs. This cyclical imbalance creates volatility that threatens the sustainability and predictability of the poultry value chain.
In addition to this market-driven instability, the sector faces structural challenges including low hatching efficiency, outdated infrastructure, limited access to modern technology, poor transport and storage systems, and frequent disease outbreaks. Moreover, the lack of skilled human resources and underdeveloped distribution networks further restrict the sector’s ability to modernise and expand.
Experts at the event included Osman Haruni, senior policy advisor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands; Mostafa Kamal, secretary of the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC); and Zahidul Islam, managing director of Axon Limited. They underscored the urgent need for long-term investment in hatchery quality, workforce training, and stronger Dutch-Bangladesh collaboration to develop a resilient and sustainable poultry ecosystem. Naziba Ali, business analyst at LightCastle Partners, delivered a keynote presentation on PoultryTechBangladesh, detailing the initiative’s goal of transforming the hatchery landscape. Technical sessions were conducted by international experts Gerd de Lange and Lotte Hebnick from Royal Pas Reform, who introduced global best practices in hatchery operations.
Bangladesh’s poultry industry currently supports approximately 6 million livelihoods and operates an estimated 90,000-100,000 hatcheries. The sector contributes around 1.6% to the national GDP and plays a vital role in ensuring protein security for the country’s growing population. As demand for poultry meat and eggs is projected to double by 2050, experts believe this sector holds immense potential for rural employment, export development, and food security. To realise this potential, experts advocate for strategic investments in hatchery modernisation, robust disease management systems, market-based policy support, and comprehensive training programmes. With the right policy environment and international cooperation, particularly with Dutch expertise in poultry technology, Bangladesh’s poultry sector can become a global model for sustainable and inclusive agri-industrial growth.
The training event was jointly organised by Larive International, LightCastle Partners, Axon Limited, and Royal Pas Reform, with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as part of the PoultryTechBangladesh project.
