‘Poultry farmers lose Tk20b in six months’
Business Report:
The Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA) has sounded an alarm over a deepening crisis in the poultry sector. Poultry farmers across Bangladesh have suffered a huge financial loss — about Tk 20 billion — over the past six months due to a sharp fall in prices of eggs and chickens, said Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA).
The financial blow has come as a direct result of a sharp fall in the market prices of eggs and chickens, rendering the sector unsustainable for thousands of small and medium-scale farmers.
At a press conference held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity on Monday, BPA leaders disclosed that around 10,000 small and medium poultry farms have already shut down during this period. They demanded immediate government intervention, calling for the formation of a Tk 10 billion emergency fund to provide financial relief to affected farmers and ensure continuity in poultry production. The BPA also emphasized the urgent need for clear policy guidelines regarding corporate poultry production, contract farming, and the establishment of a dedicated Poultry Development Board.
BPA President Suman Hawlader blamed a powerful market syndicate for manipulating poultry prices. He alleged that this group has the ability to arbitrarily raise or lower prices at will. “Whenever prices rise, the government intervenes. But when prices plummet, causing huge losses to small farmers, the authorities remain silent,” Hawlader said. “Consumers may be happy now due to lower prices, but this temporary relief could lead to severe disruptions in supply, price hikes, and food insecurity in the near future.”
Citing current market dynamics, Hawlader explained that the production cost of one kilogram of broiler chicken is Tk 150-160, but farmers are being forced to sell it for Tk 110-120. Similarly, Sonali chicken, which costs Tk 230-250 per kilogram to produce, is being sold at Tk 180-200. In the case of eggs, the production cost stands at a minimum of Tk 10 each, but they are currently being sold for as little as Tk 6-8. This imbalance between production cost and selling price is making it impossible for small farmers to sustain their operations. Bangladesh produces approximately 5,200 tonnes of broiler, Sonali, and layer chickens daily, along with 40-45 million eggs. Of this, small farmers contribute around 3,000 tonnes of chicken and 30 million eggs daily. Despite their large share in production, they are the worst affected by market volatility. According to BPA, market intermediaries are exploiting the situation-buying at low prices from small producers and selling at inflated prices to consumers, thereby making disproportionate profits.