COUNTRY’S poultry sector fears losses exceeding Tk 1,150 crore between March 20 and April 4 due to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC) said that sale of poultry chicken and eggs has already dropped in the market. The poultry farmers and entrepreneurs cannot even able to marketing what they are producing, which is causing a large amount of losses. Besides, raw materials used in the poultry industry are stuck at the port because the country’s only poultry research and training centre is closed now. Some dishonest traders though have increased the prices of rice and lentil, the prices of broiler chicken, one-day-old chicken and egg have dropped significantly. One-day-old chicken price has dropped to Tk1 whereas the production cost is almost Tk 35.
It’s crystal clear that situation is not good. The situation will deteriorate gradually if coronavirus epidemic extends. The poultry council has asked the government to provide subsidies along with other forms of support for the industry to overcome the situation. It also requested the government to exempt interests for six months for all business entities concerned along with the waiver of port demurrage to be paid for the raw materials stuck at the port. The council urged the government to distribute eggs and chicken as a part of its free food programme. What the poultry council has said it is the actual scenario of market at present time. The coronavirus pandemic has created a negative impact not only in the poultry sector, but also pushed each and every business sector to the verge of collapse. The government recently announced an incentive package for RMG sector to tackle the odd situation. We’ll ask the government to take the matter of poultry farm under its active consideration whether it’s possible to announce a separate incentive package to save the flourishing sector.
Side by side, the eggs and chicken could be provided to destitute people as a part of government’s free food programme when most of the marginal-income group people are passing tough days without any earnings staying behind the closed doors.
