Khulna poultry farms battle rising costs

An unprecedented hike in the prices of chicks, poultry feed, medicine, electricity bill and labour cost has affected the poultry industry in Khulna district. This has led to the closure of several farms, leaving hundreds of people unemployed.
Farm owners have urged the government to take steps to control prices in order to help this industry that plays a vital role in the national economy.
Sources at Khulna district livestock office said 2,495 poultry farms, 36 duck firms and four parent-stock firms are registered across the district. However, an unofficial survey in January 2014 revealed that there are around 4,952 broiler and layer farms, both registered and unregistered, in the district.
The sources said there are 19 private hatcheries in Khulna city and these are owned by big business houses. These private players dictate the market, and their monopoly may lead to the closure of many smaller farms.
Poultry farmers Shah Zafar Mahmud Meheta, Sheikh Rezanul Islam and Golam Sarwar Pintu blamed syndicates in poultry feed, medicine and chick trading for the unusual price hike of these items, leading to an unstable situation in the market. Moreover, the poultry farmers said their chickens are often affected by contagious viral diseases such as Gumboro, Ranikhet, etc.
They alleged that the livestock and fisheries department does not advise them on where and how to set up their farms. So the farmers set up their farms anywhere and pay the price. Facing trouble, many traders have shifted to other businesses, they added.
The treasurer of Khulna Poultry and Fish Feed Industry Owners’ Association, Md Mamunur Rahman, said, “We buy one-day chick per unit broiler (Havered Classic) for Tk. 30 to Tk. 32 and layer for Tk. 70.” After rearing for 28 to 30 days, a broiler weighs around 1.5 kg, he added.
During this time, per unit broiler needs three kg of poultry feed, which costs Tk. 120 as per the market rate.
As a result, the unit cost of broiler production has moved upwards to Tk. 190 to Tk. 205 from Tk. 110 to Tk. 140. A visit to some kitchen markets in Khulna city showed that per kg of broiler chicken was being sold for Tk. 120 to Tk. 130. Cocks were being sold for Tk. 180 and country hens for Tk. 230 per kg.
Khulna Poultry and Fish Feed Industry Owners’ Association president Moulana Ibrahim Foyzullah said, “The livelihoods of at least one lakh people directly and 30,000 more indirectly are dependent on this trade.”
“The farmers are rearing poultry on their own without any support from the government. Poultry farming has changed the lifestyle of many educated as well as uneducated people in Khulna,” he added.
The publicity secretary of the association, Golam Sabur Mia, said, “Khulna poultry farms are major suppliers of chicken meat and eggs to markets to Dhaka. Other poultry-based businesses have also come up in the district, generating employment for many people. The sector is helping to meet protein deficiency by bringing about a silent revolution in the country.”
Khulna district livestock officer Dr Syed Md Anwarul Islam said, “The government is aware of the crisis brought about by high costs of bird feed and medicine.” He added that said prices have to brought down to tackle the situation.
Khulna Divisional Committee of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association coordinator SM Sohrab Hossain urged the government to accept their 13-point demands, which include ensuring fair prices for their produce such as eggs and meat, reduce the rate of poultry feed, vaccine, create export opportunities, stop import of eggs and chicks and stop harassment by middleman.
He alleged that they have long been suffering from persistent losses due to the government’s faulty policy.
He said poultry farm owners have urged the government to provide interest-free loans to patronise the sector. The industry will be ruined and their livelihoods would be at stake if the government does not take corrective measures immediately, he added.

 

Khulna poultry farms battle rising costs

An unprecedented hike in the prices of chicks, poultry feed, medicine, electricity bill and labour cost has affected the poultry industry in Khulna district. This has led to the closure of several farms, leaving hundreds of people unemployed. Farm owners have urged the government to take steps to control prices in order to help this industry that plays a vital role in the national economy. Sources at Khulna district livestock office said 2,495 poultry farms, 36 duck firms and four parent-stock firms are registered across the district. However, an unofficial survey in January 2014 revealed that there are around 4,952 broiler and layer farms, both registered and unregistered, in the district. The sources said there are 19 private hatcheries in Khulna city and these are owned by big business houses. These private players dictate the market, and their monopoly may lead to the closure of many smaller farms. Poultry farmers Shah Zafar Mahmud Meheta, Sheikh Rezanul Islam and Golam Sarwar Pintu blamed syndicates in poultry feed, medicine and chick trading for the unusual price hike of these items, leading to an unstable situation in the market. Moreover, the poultry farmers said their chickens are often affected by contagious viral diseases such as Gumboro, Ranikhet, etc. They alleged that the livestock and fisheries department does not advise them on where and how to set up their farms. So the farmers set up their farms anywhere and pay the price. Facing trouble, many traders have shifted to other businesses, they added. The treasurer of Khulna Poultry and Fish Feed Industry Owners Association, Md Mamunur Rahman, said, We buy one-day chick per unit broiler (Havered Classic) for Tk. 30 to Tk. 32 and layer for Tk. 70. After rearing for 28 to 30 days, a broiler weighs around 1.5 kg, he added. During this time, per unit broiler needs three kg of poultry feed, which costs Tk. 120 as per the market rate. As a result, the unit cost of broiler production has moved upwards to Tk. 190 to Tk. 205 from Tk. 110 to Tk. 140. A visit to some kitchen markets in Khulna city showed that per kg of broiler chicken was being sold for Tk. 120 to Tk. 130. Cocks were being sold for Tk. 180 and country hens for Tk. 230 per kg. Khulna Poultry and Fish Feed Industry Owners Association president Moulana Ibrahim Foyzullah said, The livelihoods of at least one lakh people directly and 30,000 more indirectly are dependent on this trade. The farmers are rearing poultry on their own without any support from the government. Poultry farming has changed the lifestyle of many educated as well as uneducated people in Khulna, he added. The publicity secretary of the association, Golam Sabur Mia, said, Khulna poultry farms are major suppliers of chicken meat and eggs to markets to Dhaka. Other poultry-based businesses have also come up in the district, generating employment for many people. The sector is helping to meet protein deficiency by bringing about a silent revolution in the country. Khulna district livestock officer Dr Syed Md Anwarul Islam said, The government is aware of the crisis brought about by high costs of bird feed and medicine. He added that said prices have to brought down to tackle the situation. Khulna Divisional Committee of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association coordinator SM Sohrab Hossain urged the government to accept their 13-point demands, which include ensuring fair prices for their produce such as eggs and meat, reduce the rate of poultry feed, vaccine, create export opportunities, stop import of eggs and chicks and stop harassment by middleman. He alleged that they have long been suffering from persistent losses due to the governments faulty policy. He said poultry farm owners have urged the government to provide interest-free loans to patronise the sector. The industry will be ruined and their livelihoods would be at stake if the government does not take corrective measures immediately, he added.