Poultry farmers seek fair egg prices, digital database, Farmer ID

The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA) today (11 July) called for a series of policy reforms to protect poultry farmers, including a guaranteed profitable farmgate price for eggs, a nationwide digital database of poultry farms and the introduction of a Farmer ID system.

At a press conference at the National Press Club in Dhaka, the association warned that prolonged financial losses, rising production costs and inadequate market regulation are forcing thousands of small poultry farmers out of business, threatening the country's long-term food security.

BPIA President Musharraf Hossain Chowdhury said egg producers have been selling below production costs for a prolonged period, leaving many farmers in debt and compelling others to shut down their farms.

"If this situation continues, egg production will decline significantly, ultimately driving consumer prices even higher," he said.

Describing poultry as one of Bangladesh's largest agro-based industries, he said the sector supplies a substantial share of the country's animal protein while providing employment to millions. 

However, he noted that small and marginal farmers are struggling to survive as the costs of feed, day-old chicks, medicines, vaccines, electricity, gas and transportation continue to rise without a corresponding increase in farmgate prices.

According to the BPIA, the number of poultry farms has fallen from around 200,000 before 2020 to about 136,000, meaning nearly 64,000 farms have closed over the past five years due to sustained losses, higher production costs, market instability and limited access to affordable financing.

The association urged the government to introduce a fair pricing mechanism for eggs, similar to those available for other major agricultural commodities, to ensure farmers receive reasonable returns while maintaining production.

It also proposed creating a national digital database of poultry farms to provide real-time information on production, demand and supply, enabling better production planning, market management and targeted government support. The BPIA further recommended issuing a Farmer ID card to every registered poultry farmer.

Among its other recommendations were establishing cold storage facilities at the upazila level to minimise distress sales during periods of oversupply, expanding cooperative-based production and marketing systems, strengthening market monitoring to reduce excessive price fluctuations and the influence of middlemen, and improving farmers' access to subsidised feed, vaccines and low-interest loans.

Speaking at the press conference, BPIA Secretary General M Safir Rahman proposed establishing a Bangladesh National Poultry Development Board, or a national poultry coordination council under the Prime Minister's Office, to improve coordination among government agencies, researchers, private-sector stakeholders and farmers.

He said fragmented policymaking across different ministries has often delayed effective implementation, arguing that a single coordinating body would help accelerate policy decisions and strengthen the sector.

Rahman also urged the government to recognise poultry as a strategic agro-based industry essential for food security, nutrition and rural employment, calling for stronger long-term policy support.

Referring to the recently announced national budget, he welcomed the reduction of Advance Income Tax (AIT) on imported feed raw materials from 5% to 4%, but said the levy should eventually be abolished altogether.

"Neighbouring countries such as India, Pakistan, Thailand and Malaysia do not impose such taxes on imported feed ingredients. Reducing the rate to zero would significantly lower production costs and improve farmers' profitability," he said.