Bangladesh struggles for food self-sufficiency as poultry prices rise

The speech at the press conference highlighted a major problem in the poultry industry - the dominance of a few corporate groups in the production of poultry feed and chickens. This monopoly not only inflates the cost of poultry products, but also creates insurmountable barriers for farmers, who account for 80-85% of the country's chicken and egg supply. The consequences of this "stranglehold" are numerous: the recent rise in egg and chicken prices is clear evidence of the underlying dysfunction.

Transport problems and the plight of farmers

The plight of these farmers is further aggravated by transport restrictions imposed by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority. These obstacles have significantly increased production costs for farmers, in stark contrast to the relatively isolated existence of contract farmers associated with corporate groups. Inequality in operating costs threatens the very survival of private farmers, putting them on the brink of being squeezed out of the market. The Bangladesh Poultry Association warns that without immediate and decisive government intervention, egg and chicken prices could potentially double in the next two to three years. Such a scenario will not only worsen food shortages among the population, but will also further strengthen monopoly power in the market.

Call for government intervention

Leaders of the Bangladesh Poultry Association have put forward a series of demands aimed at ending the monopoly and creating a fairer poultry industry. Central to their demands is a call for the government to create its own hatcheries and allow the import of feed and chicks. Such measures would weaken the control of corporate groups over the supply chain and give small farmers a chance to compete. Moreover, the association calls on the government to facilitate smooth transportation of chickens by ensuring a stable supply of poultry products at reasonable prices. Through these measures, the association hopes to protect the interests of farmers by guaranteeing theirsurvival and contribution to the country's quest for food self-sufficiency.