Poultry industry faces uncertainty
BANGLADESH - Leaders of World Poultry Science Association Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB) yesterday said the latest outbreak of the bird flu virus will hit hard the export potentials of the country's poultry products.They feared an imminent disruption of the industry if the menace cannot be handled carefully.
"A few poultry growers had recently started exporting poultry products to some Middle Eastern countries, North Eastern region of India, and Nepal, and the present outbreak will hit hard this effort," said WPSA-BB Secretary General MA Saleque.
Cashing on Bangladesh's reputation for remaining free from the bird flu virus, a few entrepreneurs started entering some new poultry markets, which even include Europe, he added.
Saleque, also a high official of Brac, said different microcredit providers injected about 20 percent credit to the industry while different government and private banks contributed another 20 percent. These organisations may face recovery crisis in the wake of the recent invasion of bird flu in the country.
WPSA-BB President Mashiur Rahman said the outbreak will suddenly stall the booming poultry sector involving directly around 10 million people. He hoped that both the government and private entrepreneurs will jointly face the situation boldly.
Mashiur expressed satisfaction over the government's readiness to face the challenges, adding that the whole poultry industry will also face up to the challenge.
Source: The Daily Star