Higher prices still charged for chicks despite govt ultimatum
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
FE Report
The country's poultry hatchery owners are still charging higher prices for chicks despite the Commerce Minister's ultimatum of importing chicks if their prices are not reduced, alleged the poultry farmers.
The hatchery owners are still charging Tk 36-40 for each one-day-old broiler chick and Tk 58-60 for each layer chick, and thus making a windfall profit by forcing the poultry farmers to pay the extra money.
These were disclosed at a press release of Bangladesh Poultry Farms Protection National Action Committee (BPFPNAC) Monday.
Earlier, on September 2, after a meeting with representatives of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association, the Commerce Minister gave the ultimatum of importing chicks, if their prices are not reduced within seven days.
Besides, most of the poultry feed producers increased the prices of their poultry feed on three phases during the month of Ramadan after prices of maize and soyameal had increased by 20 per cent in India. These are the main ingredients of poultry feed, though Bangladesh has not yet imported any maize and soyameal from India at new increased prices, the release also said.
They added that during the Ramadan, the marginal poultry farmers are forced to sell their products to the traders at comparatively cheaper prices, which however, has no impact on the consumers, as they are still buying those at higher prices.
BPFPNAC also urged the government to provide them with lands in Dhaka and other divisional cities permanently, so that the marginal farmers can sell their hens and eggs directly to the consumers without any intrusion of the middlemen.
The country's poultry hatchery owners are still charging higher prices for chicks despite the Commerce Minister's ultimatum of importing chicks if their prices are not reduced, alleged the poultry farmers.
The hatchery owners are still charging Tk 36-40 for each one-day-old broiler chick and Tk 58-60 for each layer chick, and thus making a windfall profit by forcing the poultry farmers to pay the extra money.
These were disclosed at a press release of Bangladesh Poultry Farms Protection National Action Committee (BPFPNAC) Monday.
Earlier, on September 2, after a meeting with representatives of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association, the Commerce Minister gave the ultimatum of importing chicks, if their prices are not reduced within seven days.
Besides, most of the poultry feed producers increased the prices of their poultry feed on three phases during the month of Ramadan after prices of maize and soyameal had increased by 20 per cent in India. These are the main ingredients of poultry feed, though Bangladesh has not yet imported any maize and soyameal from India at new increased prices, the release also said.
They added that during the Ramadan, the marginal poultry farmers are forced to sell their products to the traders at comparatively cheaper prices, which however, has no impact on the consumers, as they are still buying those at higher prices.
BPFPNAC also urged the government to provide them with lands in Dhaka and other divisional cities permanently, so that the marginal farmers can sell their hens and eggs directly to the consumers without any intrusion of the middlemen.