Poultry growers at a loss over abnormal hike in price of feed

RANGPUR, Jan 21: Poultry growers of Rangpur district have been facing huge financial losses due to abnormal price hike of poultry feed and medicine in recent times. Frequent blockades and hartal during last few months further deteriorated the situation.

According to sources the prices of poultry feed, medicine and other inputs have increased abnormally but the price of matured chickens did not rise.  Consequently the poultry farm owners are facing great loss and are being compelled to close their farms.

Moreover, the industry has been facing severe setback during last few months due to violence, shut down and blockades.

Sources in poultry growers said, the price of poultry feed such as soyabean, maize, protein is much higher. Presently per sack (50 kg) of soyabean is being sold at Tk 2300 to Tk 2300 while it was Tk 1800 to Tk 1900 previously, per sack maize is being sold at Tk 1200 to Tk 1300 against its previous price of Tk 850 before, protein per sack (25 kg) is sold at Tk 2000 to Tk 2200 while it was Tk 1700 to Tk 1800 before.

At present the price of a big hen is Tk 90 to Tk 100 per kg whereas the production cost of the hen is Tk 130 to 135 per kg.  Comparatively a grower is facing Tk 35 to Tk 40 per kg, sources said.

Farhad (40), a big poultry grower of Haragach under kawnia upazila in Rangpur district told The Financial Express that all other costs of chicken like feed, medicine and maintenance are very high. But the price of grown chicken is less than the production cost as a result they have to incur losses, he added.

Repeatedly plummeting price is making a deplorable condition among middle and small size poultry growers said Mahabub Alam, president of Rangpur Poultry farm owners Association.

He said every month they have to spend huge amount of money to buy medicine for poultry which is seriously hindering their business. Several thousands of poultry farms were closed during last couple of years in the district on account of price hike of poultry feed medicine and prolonged political turmoil. The rest are barely running amidst huge crisis. The farm owners are losing their capitals everyday and turning unemployed, he added.

In this situation, he urged the government to give subsidy on poultry medicine and electricity that are used in the industry. He also made and appeal to the government for taking urgent measures for saving the prospective industry from ruination.