Farmers Call for Govt to Impose Fixed Prices
BANGLADESH - A combination of high prices for feed and chicks is challenging poultry farmers in Barisal in the south of the country and they are calling for government action to lower these costs.
27 June 2011
3 minute read
Poultry farm owners in the Barisal region are facing setbacks due to high price of chicks and poultry feed, reports Financial Express.
The farmers allege that they have become hostage to the whims of a number of hatchery owners and feed producers' syndicate.
Hundreds of small-scale farm owners of the region are leading a miserable life by losing their capital as many cannot stand in the current competition for the final products due to limited production, alleged leaders of poultry farm industries association.
According to S.M. Doha, Barisal Divisional president of Poultry Industries Association, there were more than 9,000 large and small poultry farms in Barisal.
But half of these farms have been closed down during the last two years, leaving at least 10,000 people unemployed due to continuous increases in the prices of chicks and feed.
They said that, after a joint meeting between the government high officials, hatchery and feed owners and poultry farmers a year ago, the price of each day-old broiler chick would be capped at 30 taka (BDT) and layer chicks at BDT31.
However Usha, Aftab and CP Bangladesh Hatchery are still selling layer chicks at BDT40-60 and broiler chicks at BDT35-40, ignoring the decision.
Poultry farm owners' association leaders added that the price of poultry feed from Biswas Feed, Aftab Feed, Usha Feed, Kazi Feed and Advanced Feed has been increased by BDT30-40 per 50-kg sack. A sack of layer chick feed has increased to BDT1,400 from BDT950 and for broiler chicks to BDT1,700 from BDT1,100 within a year and poultry medicines have also increased 10-20 per cent within the same period, poultry owners said.
Leaders of Barisal Poultry Feed and Chick Sellers' Association, acknowledging the facts said the producers increased the feed price due to price hike of maize in local and international market and they have nothing to do in this regard.
Financial Express reports that poultry farm owners are demanding immediate government steps to implement the decision of selling chicks at the rate fixed by the government on 31 May last year and feed at lower prices.
