Poultry farmers put forward on Saturday a set of demands to the government that include incorporating the sector to the upcoming 'National Industrial Policy 2021' for the betterment of the sector.
They also recommended making registration of the poultry farmers mandatory and providing them with easy term loans to facilitate their sustainability and flourishing.
They placed the demands at a meeting of the grassroots-level poultry farmers at the auditorium of Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) in the city on Saturday.
The farmers said in the absence of policy support the sector is yet to see fully light of development.
They called upon the government to look after the sector seriously as they alleged that a section of businessmen were trying to destroy the sector for their group interests.
Their other demands are: formulating a code of conduct that can ensure welfare of all the stakeholders of the sector, bringing all farmers under risks of insurance coverage, exempting them from VAT (value added tax) and taxes on raw materials, medicines, vaccine for fowls, freeing the sector from syndication and setting up poultry industrial parks in eight divisions of the country.
Bangladesh SME Forum organised the event which was chaired by its president Chashi Mamun, also founder of Bangladesh Poultry Shilpa (Industry) Forum.
Additional secretary of the government agriculturist Dr Sheikh Md RezauI Islam was present as the chief guest while principle scientist of Dhaka University Dr Latiful Bari was the chief discussant and general secretary of ERF SM Rashedul Islam attended it as special guest.
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