Poultry food prices have increased about 32 percent in six months. Six months ago, the price of 50 kg of poultry feed of different companies was about Tk 1,600. In a span of six months, 50 kg of poultry feed is now being sold at Tk 2,100. Farmers have to count losses as the prices of ducks, chickens and eggs did not increase in a comparative manner. In this situation, the farmers have lost their way. Many have already closed their businesses.
Chatmohar farmers have already shown signs of success in the production of ducks, chickens and eggs. This upazila has supplied surplus chickens and eggs to different districts of the country. However, in recent times, due to the increased food prices, farmers are facing financial trouble.
It has been found that in the last two decades, about two and a half thousand duck and chicken farms have been established in different villages of Chatmohar including Chatmohar upazila area.
The ducks, chickens and eggs produced in these farms were sent to at least sixteen districts of the country including Dhaka, Chattogram, Chapainawabganj, Rangpur, Jashore, Kushtia, Jhenaidah, Magura, Tangail and Satkhira. Even a few months ago, Chatmohar used to produce one million eggs a day. The eggs produced in Chatmohar met most of the overall egg demand of the country. But due to the increase in food prices, many people have stopped their business and the production of ducks, chickens and eggs is declining.
Almost all the companies including Aftab, Narish, Saguna, Paradise, Paragon, Agata, ACI, CP, Fresh, Quality, Index, Newhope have increased the price of chicken feed. AsaduzzamanSelim, a dealer at Agata Feed, said the price of poultry feed has been rising almost every month for the past five to six months. In six months, the price has gone up by around Tk 500 per 50 kg sack.
Sharif Hossain, a poultry farmer from Dolong village in Bilchalan union of the upazila, said he had set up 7 chicken farms in Chatmohar. He used to keep 13 thousand chickens in these farms. He has closed three big farms due to increase in the price of chicken feed. Now he is keeping 5500 chickens in 4 small farms. Six months ago, the price of 50 kg of food of the index company was Tk 1,600. Now that food is being sold for Tk 2,100. He said he was forced to reduce the scope of business as the price of chicken and eggs did not increase as compared to the increase in food prices.
Zakir Hossain of Kubirdia village in Mulgram Union used to raise 6,000 chickens. Now he is leaving this business. The reason for this, he said that he cannot keep up with the increasing price of poultry feed. Thus, he closed the business due to losses.
Khorshed Alam, a chicken trader from Dolong Mahalla, said that at present layer chicken is being sold at Tk 185 per kg and broiler chicken at Tk 110 per kg.
In this regard, Dr. Md. Roknuzzaman, a veterinary surgeon working in Chatmohar, said that Chatmohar is ahead of many other areas of the country in the poultry sector. The storekeepers are sending out the surplus eggs produced in Chatmohar. However, the business has come to a standstill in the last few months due to the increase in the price of chicken feed. If farmers focus on biosecurity, the disease will be less. They will be able to bear the loss at least a little.