Hike in prices of materials hits poultry farms in north

Poultry farms in 16 districts of the northern region are suffering because of frequent hike in prices of materials, including fodder, medicines and one-day-old chicks. Besides, various diseases, bird flue in particular, are worrying farm owners.
Several farm owners have been forced to close their business, turning hundreds of workers jobless. Consequently, prices of chicken and egg are increasing in markets. Poor quality Indian fowls (chicks), eggs, fodder and medicines are entering the country through different border areas and finding their way to the local markets. Lack of proper monitoring by the authorities has created the situation, farm owners and poultry traders claimed.
Sources said the price of one-day-old lyre chick was between Tk. 15 and Tk. 18 four years ago. At present, the price is Tk. 80. The price of a day-old broiler chick was between Tk. 18 and Tk. 20. But it is now Tk. 75. A day-old Sonali species of chick was sold at Tk. 15 four years back. It is now being sold at Tk. 45.
Similarly, a kg of ready feed is being sold at Tk. 38 to Tk. 40, against the previous rate of Tk. 15. A sack of protein mixed multi-C feed is being sold at Tk. 2,400, against the previous rate of Tk. 1,400; a sack of Lysine is being sold at Tk. 7,000 against the previous rate of Tk. 3,000. A bag of oyster now costs Tk. 400, up from Tk. 300 four years ago.
So, the producers and traders have been forced to increase the prices of chicken and eggs. At present, a "hali" (four pieces) of eggs is being sold at Tk. 38 to Tk. 40 on the basis of quality, while a kg of chicken is being sold between Tk. 160 and Tk. 180 on the basis of species. The price of a kg of chicken was between Tk. 135 and Tk. 140 earlier. Due to the continuous price hike and other crisis, many farm owners and traders are being forced to leave their business, as they can’t survive in the hard competition of the market.
According to sources at the Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisional Livestock Offices, there were around 25,000 poultry farms, including lyre and broiler, in 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur division four years ago. The number has fallen drastically. At the most, 10,000 poultry farms are there now. However, many of them are on the verge of being shut down, the sources claimed.
A reliable source said that chickens continue to die because of different diseases, mainly bird flue. But the farm owners hide the matter, fearing that the market will fall and they would incur losses. Sometimes, a section of the farm owners, through a secret understanding, supply dead chickens to hotels and restaurants at a lower price to recoup their losses. This poses a serious threat to the health of those consuming the meat.
Replying to a question in this regard, a hotel owner, seeking anonymity, said there is nothing to panic as the disease will not infect the eaters. The virus dies when the meat is boiled. Besides, the chickens are processed by their workers wearing gloves. This safeguards them from infection, he claimed.
Hassan Ali, 45, a poultry trader of Mirpur in Sirajganj town, said he was forced to close his farm after the death of a good number of chickens infected with bird flue. Besides, he was incurring losses due to the hike in prices of one-day-old chick or fowl.
While contacted over cell phone, Mohibullah Chowdhury, a leader of the Poultry Farm Owners' Association, Thakurgaon unit, said around 80 per cent of the poultry farms in his area have shut down in the last four years. Many youths, who started the business after taking loans from banks or other financial institutions, have given up midway failing in the competitive market. He also said that Indian feeds, medicines and fowls have flooded the local markets. As a result, bird flue is spreading across the region.
Rafiqul Islam, district livestock officer (DLO) of Thakurgaon, admitted that the situation was bad. He said farm owners are facing problems because of price hike of fodder and medicines. Besides, they can’t provide treatment to  chickens affected for lack of necessary manpower, including veterinary surgeon. Dr Akhteruzzaman Bhuiyan, DLO of Sirajganj, and Nizam Uddin, DLO of Rajshahi, said panic has gripped the poultry farm owners, as well as consumers, due to the recent bird flue epidemic, detected from samples of dead crows at the ground of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital. But they are yet to get any news of chicken deaths from any poultry farm.
They, however, have heard about dead chickens being supplied to hotels and restaurants. Action would be taken after investigation, they said.
 They also admitted that the price of chicken has increased by Tk. 40 in the markets for shortage in supply over the last few days.

Hike in prices of materials hits poultry farms in north

Poultry farms in 16 districts of the northern region are suffering because of frequent hike in prices of materials, including fodder, medicines and one-day-old chicks. Besides, various diseases, bird flue in particular, are worrying farm owners. Several farm owners have been forced to close their business, turning hundreds of workers jobless. Consequently, prices of chicken and egg are increasing in markets. Poor quality Indian fowls (chicks), eggs, fodder and medicines are entering the country through different border areas and finding their way to the local markets. Lack of proper monitoring by the authorities has created the situation, farm owners and poultry traders claimed. Sources said the price of one-day-old lyre chick was between Tk. 15 and Tk. 18 four years ago. At present, the price is Tk. 80. The price of a day-old broiler chick was between Tk. 18 and Tk. 20. But it is now Tk. 75. A day-old Sonali species of chick was sold at Tk. 15 four years back. It is now being sold at Tk. 45. Similarly, a kg of ready feed is being sold at Tk. 38 to Tk. 40, against the previous rate of Tk. 15. A sack of protein mixed multi-C feed is being sold at Tk. 2,400, against the previous rate of Tk. 1,400; a sack of Lysine is being sold at Tk. 7,000 against the previous rate of Tk. 3,000. A bag of oyster now costs Tk. 400, up from Tk. 300 four years ago. So, the producers and traders have been forced to increase the prices of chicken and eggs. At present, a hali (four pieces) of eggs is being sold at Tk. 38 to Tk. 40 on the basis of quality, while a kg of chicken is being sold between Tk. 160 and Tk. 180 on the basis of species. The price of a kg of chicken was between Tk. 135 and Tk. 140 earlier. Due to the continuous price hike and other crisis, many farm owners and traders are being forced to leave their business, as they cant survive in the hard competition of the market. According to sources at the Rajshahi and Rangpur Divisional Livestock Offices, there were around 25,000 poultry farms, including lyre and broiler, in 16 districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur division four years ago. The number has fallen drastically. At the most, 10,000 poultry farms are there now. However, many of them are on the verge of being shut down, the sources claimed. A reliable source said that chickens continue to die because of different diseases, mainly bird flue. But the farm owners hide the matter, fearing that the market will fall and they would incur losses. Sometimes, a section of the farm owners, through a secret understanding, supply dead chickens to hotels and restaurants at a lower price to recoup their losses. This poses a serious threat to the health of those consuming the meat. Replying to a question in this regard, a hotel owner, seeking anonymity, said there is nothing to panic as the disease will not infect the eaters. The virus dies when the meat is boiled. Besides, the chickens are processed by their workers wearing gloves. This safeguards them from infection, he claimed. Hassan Ali, 45, a poultry trader of Mirpur in Sirajganj town, said he was forced to close his farm after the death of a good number of chickens infected with bird flue. Besides, he was incurring losses due to the hike in prices of one-day-old chick or fowl. While contacted over cell phone, Mohibullah Chowdhury, a leader of the Poultry Farm Owners Association, Thakurgaon unit, said around 80 per cent of the poultry farms in his area have shut down in the last four years. Many youths, who started the business after taking loans from banks or other financial institutions, have given up midway failing in the competitive market. He also said that Indian feeds, medicines and fowls have flooded the local markets. As a result, bird flue is spreading across the region. Rafiqul Islam, district livestock officer (DLO) of Thakurgaon, admitted that the situation was bad. He said farm owners are facing problems because of price hike of fodder and medicines. Besides, they cant provide treatment to chickens affected for lack of necessary manpower, including veterinary surgeon. Dr Akhteruzzaman Bhuiyan, DLO of Sirajganj, and Nizam Uddin, DLO of Rajshahi, said panic has gripped the poultry farm owners, as well as consumers, due to the recent bird flue epidemic, detected from samples of dead crows at the ground of Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital. But they are yet to get any news of chicken deaths from any poultry farm. They, however, have heard about dead chickens being supplied to hotels and restaurants. Action would be taken after investigation, they said. They also admitted that the price of chicken has increased by Tk. 40 in the markets for shortage in supply over the last few days.