Corporate entities in the poultry sector are dominating the market by controlling feed, day-old chicks, medicines, and pricing, posing significant challenges for small-scale farmers. Despite rising production costs, farmers are not receiving fair prices. These concerns were raised in a press release by the Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA) on Saturday. The association’s president, Suman Hawladar, called for the formation of a Poultry Board to safeguard the sector.

While farmers struggle with low prices, the retail cost of broiler chickens has surpassed 200 BDT per kilogram. On Saturday, broiler chicken was sold at 190-210 BDT per kilogram in Dhaka’s retail markets, while Sonali chicken was priced at 330-350 BDT per kilogram. Ershad Mia, a salesperson at Ma Nurjahan Chicken House in Karwan Bazar, noted that demand for poultry increases during winter due to numerous events in rural and urban areas.

The BPA attributed the crisis to the calculated dominance of corporate groups, warning that if their influence and syndication are not curbed, small-scale farmers will be forced to shut down operations. President Suman Hawladar also criticized certain corrupt government officials for enabling these corporations by taking decisions that jeopardize the survival of small farmers. He highlighted that increasing production costs and inadequate pricing are driving many farmers out of business, which could lead to severe disruptions in egg and poultry production.

To protect the poultry sector, Hawladar stressed the need to ensure the survival of small-scale farmers by establishing a Poultry Board, providing easy-access, collateral-free loans, and ensuring transparency in pricing. He also urged authorities to regulate the cost of feed and day-old chicks and to address negligence among corrupt officials.