Some 10,000 small and medium poultry farms in Bangladesh faced closure over the past six months due to a sharp drop in egg and chicken prices, causing the industry to incur nearly Tk 2,000 crore loss, according to The Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA).
Speaking at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Monday, BPA leaders have called for urgent steps to protect the country’s poultry sector from collapse.They proposed creating a Tk 1,000 crore emergency fund and placed a set of demands to help farmers stay in business.
“While consumers may feel happy about the lower prices, the situation is dangerous for farmers,” BPA President Md Suman Hawlader said.
He explained that producing one kilogram of broiler chicken costs Tk 150 to Tk 160, but farmers are having to sell it for just Tk 110 to Tk 120. Similarly, Sonali chickens cost Tk 230 to Tk 250 per kg to produce but are being sold at Tk 180 to Tk 200. The production cost of one egg is about Tk 10, but farmers are forced to sell them for only Tk 6 to Tk 8.
He added that small farmers are losing Tk 30 to Tk 50 per kilogram of chicken and Tk 2 to Tk 3 per egg. Every day, they are losing around Tk 15 crore, which has added up to nearly Tk 2,000 crore in the last five to six months.
Suman Hawlader blamed the situation on large companies and contract farming systems that produce 10 to 20 percent of the total supply. He said these companies are taking advantage of the market while small farmers suffer. He warned that if this continues, affordable protein like eggs and chicken will become expensive and out of reach for ordinary people.
The association called for government support to help the farmers recover and continue production. Their demands include better access to loans, fair pricing, improved cold storage, training facilities, and proper market regulation. They also stressed the need for a national poultry database and a poultry development board.
The BPA urged the government to take action quickly to save the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and ensure the country’s food security.