THE poultry sub-sector of Bangladesh has already established itself as an important area of necessity. Poultry products like egg and chicken meet our protein requirement. It is estimated that there are about 70 thousand small chicken farms in the country which are producing eggs and broiler chickens throughout the year. An estimated six million people are directly dependent on the poultry sub-sector for their earnings. The sub-sector has also generated a sizeable employment opportunities for the unemployed youths in rural Bangladesh.
The problem the sub-sector has been confronted with lately is a manipulated one. Steady supply of day-one chicken at reasonable price is the challenge. This is not the first time price of one-day chicken sky rocketed from Tk.20 to Tk.80 per piece. If one reviews the problem it would be clear that the breeders formed syndicates informally among them and reduced supply for a few days. Later they increased price and collected huge profit from the chicken farmers. The farmers reduced the number of rearing chickens for fear of huge loss. The consumers, on the other hand, reduced consumption as most of them have limited income to spend.
The problem can be addressed if the government comes forward to provide administrative and financial support to develop at least two interested farms as breeders in each district to produce one-day chickens and supply the same to the farmers at reasonable price.
Mohd. Ashraf Hossain
120 Middle Bashabo, Dhaka1214.
mah120cb@yahoo.com
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