The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC), in a discussion on Monday, placed six proposals to protect the country's marginal farmers and help them remain in farming.
The BPICC and the World's Poultry Science Association - Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB) organised the discussion.
The six proposals included ensuring farmers' access to low-interest loans, setting both minimum and maximum prices for eggs and poultry under the government regulation, and removing restriction on egg storage in cold storage facilities.
They also proposed providing subsidies to marginal farmers during off-seasons, eliminating AIT, TDS, and VDS taxes on poultry feed to reduce cost, and developing a strategic policy on egg and poultry production, storage, and marketing.
Every year, egg and poultry prices witness debacle on three to four occasions, leaving many farmers bankrupt and destitute. Due to an unusual drop in egg prices this month, many farmers are being forced to sell off their chickens, said the speakers.
Farm owners and farmers could not always sell eggs at the government-set prices, as they had to sell eggs even at Tk 7.30 a piece due to storage restrictions and fines, they added.
WPSA-BB President Masiur Rahman said retail egg prices in Dhaka ranged between Tk 10-10.50 per piece, while farm gate prices averaged Tk 8.50 in Dhaka and Mymensingh and Tk 8.0 in Tangail and Narsingdi.
The Department of Agricultural Marketing (DAM) set the farm gate price at Tk 10.58 per piece, wholesale at Tk 11.01, and retail at Tk 11.87 per egg, against the production cost of Tk 10.19.
"This means farmers are losing at least Tk 1.69-2.19 per egg. With around 45 million eggs of daily production, losses over the past 21 days reached Tk 1.59-2.06 billion."
Unable to sustain losses, many farmers are now selling off their chickens. It is an alarming trend, as demand would surge after the Ramadan, when schools and offices would reopen, potentially causing supply shortage and price hike.
Masiur also said egg prices in Bangladesh are lower than in most of countries. While the neighbouring countries claim cheaper eggs, their eggs are 13 per cent lighter in weight whereas prices are 10 per cent lower.
WPSA-BB Secretary General Bipul Kumar Pramanik said Bangladesh's poultry feed quality is superior, as foreign feed contains antibiotic growth promoters and meat-and-bone meal, which are banned here.
Feed Industries Association Bangladesh (FIAB) Secretary General Md. Nazrul Islam said the neighboring countries have only a Tk 1.0 price gap from farm to consumer, while it is Tk 3.0-4.0 in Bangladesh. Reducing middlemen could lower egg prices.
Breeders Association of Bangladesh (BAB) Secretary General Shah Fahad Habib said day-old chick prices also dropped this month. A year-round balanced market would benefit both farmers and consumers.
Animal Health Companies Association of Bangladesh (AHCAB) Secretary General Aftab Alam suggested exporting eggs to offset losses since import remains minimal amid low demand.
Diamond Eggs CEO Asaduzzaman Mezbah said farmers, burdened by millions of Tk in bank loans, operate amid loss in 3-4 months a year. Encouragement, not intimidation, would boost their production.
tonmoy.wardad@gmail.com
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