Govt support inadequate
Monday, 23 March 2009
Our Correspondent
KHULNA, Mar 22: The effect of avian influenza infection and lack of adequate from the government to help rescue the industry from the crisis have forced almost half of this region's poultry farms to close down.
Khulna Poultry Firms Owners Association (KPFOA) leaders said the poultry sector has incurred a Tk 85 million loss in the past two years when about hundred of usand people involved in poultry farming lost their jobs. However, the government has given Tk 1.0 million 29 thousand as compensation among 229 poultry farmers in this area.
Abdul Mabud, a poultry farmer of Raghunathpur village under Dumuria upazila, told this correspondent that he lost around 2,500 layer birds due ird flu in 2007. 'But I am yet to get any help from any bank in resuming my business.'
Meanwhile, the prices of broiler meat and eggs have shot up, going well beyond the purchasing capacity of the low-income people. At present, broiler sales at Tk 140-150 a kilogramme and an egg at Tk 7.0.
The fams produce about 0.4 million eggs a day on an average and send at least 0m, million eggs to other districts, the association sources said. Khulna farmers also supply meat to different districts every day.
The exorbitant prices of local day-old chicks, broiler and eggs are spurring smuggling of poor-quality chicks, broiler and eggs from India, posing a serious threat of bird flu infection in the country, alleged KPFOA leaders.
They urged the government to provide financial assistance to the marginal and small poultry farmers on low interest to sustain the sector. The government should also give permission to the private sector to import bird flu vaccine and diagnostic kits, they added.
Medicines and nutrients used in the industry are mostly imported, while local supplies can meet only 25 per cent of the poultry feed requirements, industry insiders said.
Due to lack of laboratory support and modern veterinary service, the Khulna poultry farmers depend on representatives of vaccine, medicine and vitamin marketing companies for the treatment of fowls.
There are about 4000 big, medium and small sized farms in this area. Of them, about 2800 are layer (for eggs) farms and about 1200 are broiler (for meat) farms.
A small farm affords to have 200 to 500 fowls, while a middle one can have 500 to 2500 and a big one can own more than 3,000 poultry birds.
The Khulna Poultry and Fish Feed Association sources said prices of vaccines, medicines, vitamins and feed have gone up due to higher import costs.
A Khulna livestock officer told this correspondent that they give support to the farmers by giving advice and information about farming and disease control.
KHULNA, Mar 22: The effect of avian influenza infection and lack of adequate from the government to help rescue the industry from the crisis have forced almost half of this region's poultry farms to close down.
Khulna Poultry Firms Owners Association (KPFOA) leaders said the poultry sector has incurred a Tk 85 million loss in the past two years when about hundred of usand people involved in poultry farming lost their jobs. However, the government has given Tk 1.0 million 29 thousand as compensation among 229 poultry farmers in this area.
Abdul Mabud, a poultry farmer of Raghunathpur village under Dumuria upazila, told this correspondent that he lost around 2,500 layer birds due ird flu in 2007. 'But I am yet to get any help from any bank in resuming my business.'
Meanwhile, the prices of broiler meat and eggs have shot up, going well beyond the purchasing capacity of the low-income people. At present, broiler sales at Tk 140-150 a kilogramme and an egg at Tk 7.0.
The fams produce about 0.4 million eggs a day on an average and send at least 0m, million eggs to other districts, the association sources said. Khulna farmers also supply meat to different districts every day.
The exorbitant prices of local day-old chicks, broiler and eggs are spurring smuggling of poor-quality chicks, broiler and eggs from India, posing a serious threat of bird flu infection in the country, alleged KPFOA leaders.
They urged the government to provide financial assistance to the marginal and small poultry farmers on low interest to sustain the sector. The government should also give permission to the private sector to import bird flu vaccine and diagnostic kits, they added.
Medicines and nutrients used in the industry are mostly imported, while local supplies can meet only 25 per cent of the poultry feed requirements, industry insiders said.
Due to lack of laboratory support and modern veterinary service, the Khulna poultry farmers depend on representatives of vaccine, medicine and vitamin marketing companies for the treatment of fowls.
There are about 4000 big, medium and small sized farms in this area. Of them, about 2800 are layer (for eggs) farms and about 1200 are broiler (for meat) farms.
A small farm affords to have 200 to 500 fowls, while a middle one can have 500 to 2500 and a big one can own more than 3,000 poultry birds.
The Khulna Poultry and Fish Feed Association sources said prices of vaccines, medicines, vitamins and feed have gone up due to higher import costs.
A Khulna livestock officer told this correspondent that they give support to the farmers by giving advice and information about farming and disease control.