UNB, Dhaka :The country’s poultry sector is facing a setback due to excessive production of meat and egg compared to the demand, claimed the poultry industry leaders.”Some 1,500 metric tonnes of poultry meat is being produced in the country daily against the demand of 1,400 metric tones, while the daily egg production is 1.60 crore pieces against the demand of 1.50 crore,” secretary general of Breeders Association of Bangladesh (BAB) Saidur Rahman Babu told a discussion here on Wednesday.Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) organised the discussion, titled ‘Poultry Industry-Media Cooperation Vital for Healthy & Meritorious Bangladesh’, at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.Expressing concern over the low demand of poultry products, Saidur Rahman said the poultry farmers are selling eggs at Tk 5.50 to Tk 5.75 per piece against the production cost of Tk 6.50. “Thus, the poultry industry has been facing losses over the last couple of months.”BPICC convener Mosiur Rahman said investment on poultry sector has now exceeded Tk 25,000 crore. “If the government helps the farmers, it may increase to Tk 50,000 crore by 2030,” he said.Speaking on the occasion, economist Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem said the poultry industry contributes 1 percent to the country’s GDP while at least 60 lakh people are involved in the sector, but the industry lacks support form the government.He said the poultry industry is one of the promising sectors for employment generation. “So, a poultry board should be formed to coordinate activities of the local poultry farmers.”Additional Director (research) of Centre for Policy Dialogue Dr Moazzem stressed the need for forming a data bank to help the media and other stakeholders get information related to the poultry industry.Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Boishakhi TV Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said the poultry sector is related to people’s daily needs so the relation between the media and poultry industries should be improved.Chaired by BPICC convener Mosiur Rahman, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, Prothom Alo joint editor Sohrab Hossain.
