Experts have proposed introducing a bonded warehouse facility for the feed sector aiming to boost both domestic production and exports of poultry products.
Waste disposal system should also be compulsory in every poultry farm for producing environment-friendly safe products, stakeholders at the policy making discussion titled 'Safe and sustainable poultry production: Expectations and plans' said on Monday.
The discussion was held at a city hotel organised by the World Poultry Science Association (WPSA)-Bangladesh Branch.
Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL) Minister SM Rezaul Karim said the poultry sector will get all possible facilities to boost further production.
He said the sector insiders should also be self-sufficient in raw materials of poultry feed.
"In that case, the government would provide other benefits including tax exemption on import of required machinery," he said.
In order to become self-sufficient in the poultry sector, its ancillary industries also need to be developed, he said.
The minister also expressed his hope that the livestock and poultry farms would soon get rebates on electricity like that of crop agriculture.
State Minister for Planning Dr Md Samsul Alam said in the coming years the domestic poultry sector would start contributing to exports in large amounts.
He said bonded warehouse facilities have been provided to the garment sector.
"Similar benefits can be considered in the case of importing raw materials for the feed industry which could help minimise production costs," he said.
The poultry market chain could also be shortened by setting up large poultry markets in different district headquarters of the country for the benefit of marginal farmers.
Shamsul Alam also pointed out that Bangladesh is in a positive development path in terms of consumption of poultry products as it is ahead of its neighbouring India and Pakistan.
Quoting from the IMF, he said Bangladesh is also ahead in terms of per capita income compared to those countries which is very positive for any business.
President of WAPSA-Bangladesh Branch Moshiur Rahman said every farm must have a waste disposal system for producing safe food and sustaining the environment.
He claimed that many big companies are leaving poultry litter here and there in the dark of night and spreading germs and diseases.
He urged for strict regulation in the farms to ensure environment friendly sustainable safe food production.
The government should introduce a system so that guilty farms could not renew their licences, said Mr Rahman.
Fisheries and Livestock Secretary Dr Mohammad Yamin Chowdhury, Director General of the Department of Livestock Dr Manzoor Mohammad Shahzada, and Director General of the Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Dr SM Jahangir Hossain also spoke, among others.
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