Poultry owners at mercy of hatchery, feed farms
Poultry farm owners in the district are facing setback as they have become hostage to the whims of a syndicate of hatchery owners and poultry feed producers.
SM Doha, president of Barisal Poultry Farm Owners' Association said the syndicate has pauperised hundreds of poultry farm owners. It made them bankrupt as they lost their capital, he said.
He alleged that a number of hatchery owners are continuously increasing the price of one-day old chicks illogically.
A chick is now selling between Tk 50 and Tk 78 although it was between Tk 35 and Tk 45 only a week ago and Tk 25-30 in January-February this year.
Local poultry farm owners informed that Usha and CP Bangladesh hatcheries
are selling each chick at Tk 60-78, while Aftab Hatchery at Tk 52-62.
The poultry farm owners are being compelled to purchase those chicks at a higher price to run their business.
They are taking loans from various banks and NGOs amid uncertainty as to whether they would be able to continue their business by purchasing chicks at such an exorbitant price, said Aminul Islam Jhanda, secretary of Barisal Poultry Farm Owners' Association.
Local poultry traders said a maximum of Tk 25-30 is spent for producing a chick but the hatchery owners' are selling it at double price.
Paltu Negahban, a poultry firm owner of Barisal Sadar upazila said, the poultry farms in Barisal are on the verge of closure due to increased price of layer and broiler chicks.
“No action is being taken against the greedy hatchery owners though they are increasing the price of chicks at their will”, he said.
According to SM Doha, there were more than 4,000 large and small poultry farms in the district.
Half of these farms have already been closed due to illogical and exorbitant price of chicks and poultry feed. As a result, more than 10,000 people involved with the trade have become unemployed, he said.
Local poultry farm owners said price of poultry feed produced by several units has been increased by Tk 30-40 per bag than the previous month.
They said, if the government does not come forward to control the price of chicks and poultry feed, the poultry industries in the district will face a catastrophe.
Samaresh Majumdar, Livestock Officer of Barisal admitted that the price of one-day old chick has increased abnormally due to the syndicate of dishonest hatchery owners and poultry feed producers.
He further said that he has already informed the matter to the ministry concerned and expressed the hope that the ministry will take necessary action in this regard.
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