BPIA pushes for reforms to protect poultry farmers, ensure fair egg prices

FE REPORT
The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA) on Saturday called for a series of structural reforms, including a guaranteed profitable farmgate price for eggs, a nationwide digital database of poultry farmers, Farmer ID cards and formation of a national poultry board, warning that continued losses are forcing thousands of farmers out of business and threatening the country's food security.
At a press conference at the National Press Club in the city, BPIA leaders said prolonged production losses, rising input costs and weak market regulation pushed many poultry farms to closure over the past five years.
They urged the government to adopt long-term policy measures instead of short-term interventions to sustain the country's poultry industry.
BPIA President Musharraf Hossain Chowdhury said egg producers were selling their produce below production costs for an extended period, leaving many farmers burdened with debt and forcing others to shut down operations.
"If this situation continues, egg production will decline significantly, ultimately pushing consumer prices even higher," he said.
According to the association, the number of poultry farms has declined to about 136,000 from nearly 200,000 before 2020, meaning around 64,000 farms have disappeared due to sustained financial losses, rising production costs, market instability and limited access to affordable credit.
The association said Bangladesh's poultry sector was one of the country's largest agro-based industries, supplying a major share of animal protein while generating employment for millions.
However, small and marginal farmers are facing mounting pressure as prices of feed, day-old chicks, medicines, vaccines, electricity, gas and transport continue to rise without corresponding increases in farmgate prices.
To address the crisis, BPIA proposed introducing a fair pricing mechanism for eggs so that farmers receive a reasonable profit while ensuring stable supplies for consumers.
It also recommended creating a national digital database of poultry farms to generate real-time information on production, demand and supply for better planning and market management.
The association further suggested introducing a Farmer ID card for every registered poultry farmer to facilitate access to government support and financial services.
BPIA Secretary General M Safir Rahman proposed establishing a Bangladesh National Poultry Development Board or a national poultry coordination council under the Prime Minister's Office to improve coordination among government agencies, researchers, financial institutions, private companies and farmers.
He said policymaking for the poultry sector remained fragmented across different ministries, delaying effective implementation, while a single coordinating platform would help expedite decisions and strengthen the industry's development.
Welcoming the reduction of Advance Income Tax (AIT) on imported feed raw materials from 5 per cent to 4 per cent in the national budget, he said the tax should ultimately be withdrawn.
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