The syndicate of poultry feed and chicks of corporate companies is creating instability in the egg and chicken market, it was learnt. There will be no price relief in the egg and chicken market until the government breaks this syndicate.
The Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA) made this allegation at a press conference at the Nasrul Hamid Khan Auditorium of Dhaka Reporters Unity on Saturday.
At the press conference, the organization's President, Sumon Hawlader, said that marginal farmers ensure 80 per cent of egg and chicken production. And the contribution of corporate groups is only 20 per cent. Yet, due to the strategic market control of corporate groups, it is becoming difficult for marginal farmers to survive. While marginal farmers spend Tk 10.50 to Tk 11 to produce an egg, 1 kg of broiler chicken costs Tk 155 to Tk 170 to produce, and 1 kg of golden chicken costs Tk 240 to Tk 260, corporate groups spend only Tk 8 to Tk 9 to produce 1 kg of egg, 1 kg of broiler chicken costs Tk 130 to Tk 140 to produce, and 1 kg of golden chicken costs Tk 200 to Tk 220 to produce.
Through this, corporate groups are strategically reducing prices and capturing the market, weakening marginal farmers. On the contrary, marginal farmers cannot make a profit due to high production costs. As a result, many of them are closing their poultries.
He said that marginal farmers are the backbone of the country's poultry industry. If effective measures are not taken to protect them, corporate groups will establish monopoly over the market. When the price of eggs or chicken increases, discussions start across the country about it, and there is also rapid intervention from the government. But why does the government not take any action when the price of feed or chicks increases? When the prices of feed and chicks increase, it directly affects marginal farmers, who do not get a fair price for their products and their production costs increase. Due to this instability, farmers are affected, and it becomes more difficult for them to survive. As a result, when the production costs of farmers increase and they cannot cover these costs, distrust and instability are created in the market.
He also said, "In order to restore comfort in the egg and chicken market on the occasion of the upcoming month of Ramadan and to ensure the right price in the market, the sale of eggs, frozen chicken and other agricultural products at a fair price at a limited profit is going to start at 20 points in Dhaka city from January 12 and later at 100 points in phases.
We seek the cooperation of the government so that this initiative can be successfully implemented and comfort for eggs and chicken can be ensured, as well as ensuring the right price for the farmers and consumers of the country."
Suman Howlader alleged that the poultry industry is currently facing a serious crisis. The main reason for this is the syndicate in the feed and chick market. Through the monopoly of corporate companies, they have extorted huge amounts of money from marginal farmers.
