Eggs and chicken from farms in Lalmohan upazila, Bhola, meet local demand and go to markets around the country, and many entrepreneurs have become self-reliant. But rising feed prices, disease, the extra cost of medicines and unfair egg prices mean farmers often take losses.
Haji Abdul Malek of Ramaganj union has built a farm on about 20 acres. His roughly 15,000 layer hens produce 8,000 to 10,000 eggs a day, and he employs 10 workers. Higher feed prices have pushed up production costs, he says, and the birds need regular medicine to keep disease away.
He says that in 15 years he has never received advice on running the farm or treating disease from a doctor at the upazila livestock hospital, nor seen one visit. Many other farmers, including Khairul Hasan Kanchan, Helal Uddin Molla and Haji Abu Taher, make the same complaint, saying hens die on some farm almost every day.
Farmers want easy and interest-free loans, regular farm visits and veterinary and technical advice, which they say would help the sector grow and create more jobs.
Lalmohan upazila livestock officer Dr Md Harun-or-Rashid admitted the complaints are true. Regular supervision is the rule, he said, but staff shortages make it impossible; once they ease, officers will try to visit every farm, hear the problems and provide advice and government support.
This report is based on reporting by Daily Bangladesh's Lalmohan correspondent.
Source: Daily Bangladesh
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