Bangladesh - The poultry farm owners of Barisal are in bad condition, as they have become hostages in the hands of a number of hatcheries and feed producing owners' syndicate.
In consequence whereof hundreds of poultry farm owners of Barisal are leading a miserable life by losing their capital, alleged S M Doha, president of Barisal poultry farm owners association.
He alleged that a number of hatchery owners are continually increasing the price of one-day old chick illogically in several phases.
Recently, the price of a chick is being charged at taka 50-78 per piece though it was taka 35-45 a week ago and 25-30 on January-February 2010.
Poultry farm owners alleged that Usha and CP Bangladesh Hatchery selling chick at the rate of Tk60-78, while Aftab Hatchery selling that at the rate of Tk.52-62 per piece.
But for the sake of continuing their trade, the poultry farm owners are being bound to purchase those chicks at a higher price and facing counting loss.
And for continuation of their business, they are taking loans from various banks and NGOs with uncertainty as to whether they would be able to continue by purchasing chicks at such an exorbitant price, said Aminul Islam Jhanda, secretary Barisal poultry firm owners association.
Poultry trader further said highest Tk. 25-30 might be spent for producing a chick and the greedy hatchery owners creating syndicate selling that at least double price.
The increased price of chick is making a great loss to the poultry farm owners in contrast to the hatchery owners earning of a huge profit, said Jebunnesa, a general poultry farm owner of Kashipur Gonpara area under Barisal city corporation.
Paltu Negahban, another poultry firm owner of Barisal sadar upazila said, the poultry industries in Barisal are on the verge of closure due to an excessive increase of price of chick of layer and broiler.
"The price of a one-day old chick must not be more than taka 15 to 16 but it is being sold by the hatchery owners at taka 60-70" he said, adding that no action is being taken against those syndicated hatchery owners though they are increasing the price of chicks by their will.
According to S M Doha and Aminul Islam Jhanda, president and secretary of Barisal Poultry Owners Association, there are more than 4,000 large and small poultry farms in Barisal.
Already a half of these farms have been closed due to exorbitant increase of price of chick and the poultry feed. As a result, more than ten thousand people associated with this trade have become unemployed. They added when a poultry farm owner fails to earn profit even after their yearlong labour, a hatchery owner is earning a profit of taka 50 to 60 by selling a chick within a span of a week only.
General poultry farm owners further said price of poultry feeds produced by Biswas feed, Aftab Feed, Usha Feed, Kazi feed, Advanced Feed has been increased Tk. 30-40 per sack than the previous month.
They said, if the government does not come forward to control the price of chick and poultry feed, this promising poultry industry will face an imminent catastrophe.
Samaresh Majumdar, Animal Resource Officer of Barisal while talking to this correspondent said the government was trying its best to expand the poultry industry in the country. He admitted that due to the dishonest motive of syndicates of the hatcheries owners and poultry feed producers, the price of one day old chick has been increased abnormally. In this connection he acknowledged that the price of a chick cannot be more than taka 15 to 16 but the syndicated hatchery owners are selling those for 52 to 78.
He further said he has already appraised the matter to the concerned ministry and hoped the ministry will take necessary action in this connection.
