Poultry farmers in Chandpur are in trouble because of rising feed prices and load-shedding. Over the past month, 30 per cent of the district's poultry farms have closed, and those still going are carrying on in fear of heavy losses.

Visits to several farms found that many have shut their farms because of feed price rises and load-shedding. Many who had three farms have closed two and are running only one.

Md Harun, a poultry trader in East Gunrajdi in Chandpur town, said: "I have been in this business for a long time. I had two farms, and because of feed price rises and load-shedding one is now closed." The quality of broiler feed is also poor now, he said. "Business is so bad that I owe the dealer several lakh taka. We are on the verge of ruin. I don't know what to do. I have never done any other business, so I can't leave this one either, but staying in it I am falling into debt."

Shafiqul Islam, a poultry farmer in South Bishnudi, said he has been in the poultry business for 25 years. "Electricity is essential for raising broilers, but with the current load-shedding it has become hard to keep the business going. The chickens are not growing properly because of the power problem. On top of that, over the past few months broiler feed has risen by Tk 30 to 35 a kg, or Tk 1,200 to 1,300 a sack."

"Without proper electricity, about 150 of the bigger birds among my 1,000 chickens have died in the heat. On top of that, we are selling chickens at only Tk 135 to 140 a kg," he said.

In the market, however, broilers were retailing at Tk 170 a kg. Zakir Hossain, a retailer at Biponibag Bazar, said: "We buy broilers from the dealer at Tk 152. Then there is transport cost, and feed costs while they are in the shop. We leave the chickens in the shop and go home at night. Often, because there is no electricity, one or two chickens die every day."

Md Sekandar Khan, a poultry trader in Tarpurchandi union of Chandpur Sadar upazila, said: "I had two poultry farms. Because of the power problem and high feed prices my farms have been closed for several months. But when things return to normal I want to start the farms again."

Redwan Gazi, a retail chicken seller at Wireless Bazar, said that a few days ago, during an hour and a half of load-shedding, 24 of the chickens in his shop died of heatstroke.

Titu Sarkar, owner of New Sarkar Enterprise, a poultry supplies business at Notun Bazar, said the poultry business is not doing well. Rising feed prices, load-shedding and higher fuel oil prices have greatly increased the cost of raising chickens, he said. "Consumers think chicken prices are high, but we are not getting a fair price compared with the production cost. The government needs to look kindly on the industry to keep it alive. Farmers are being badly hit, and many farms have closed."

Dr Md Delwar Hossain, deputy director of the artificial insemination centre of the Chandpur district Department of Livestock Services, said there are currently 918 poultry farms in Chandpur, and 30 per cent of them have closed in the past month.

He said the rise in feed prices and the load-shedding problem are due to global causes, but broiler farmers need electricity 24 hours a day, and he hopes the problem will be solved soon. The government gave farmers various incentives during the pandemic, he said, and the current problems will also be reported to higher authorities. He hopes the government will consider the importance of the industry and take the necessary steps.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.