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Poultry farmers have been worried about their business as their chickens are dying from heatstroke every day amid the ongoing scorching heatwave in the country.
As chickens do not eat properly for the sultry heat, their egg production has started to decrease, they say.
Poultry farmers say that every farm shed has a tin canopy which causes the tin to absorb more heat from the sun.
Even splashing water on chickens five/six times a day this summer is not working. Chickens are clucking in the heat and also dying from heatstroke.
They mention that they will suffer loss in poultry business as the price of an egg has come down to Tk 8 whereas its production is Tk 10. The prices of farm-raised broiler chicken have also decreased, they said, claiming that they would have to calculate a loss of Tk 20 per kg. If this situation continues for a few more days, the poultry industry will collapse, they fear.
Md Saiful Islam, president of the Chatmohar Upazila Poultry Farm Owners Association, said the poultry industry is facing threat from the scorching heat. In the last few days, 800 chickens died in his farm.
"Like me, many farmers are afraid of failing to repay the loan," he added.
Anisur Rahman, owner of a poultry farm, says there are 2,000 chickens in his farm, but 243 chickens died in the last eight days.
Sajib Hussain, who has a layer and broiler chicken farm in Dashuria-Bharimari village of Ishwardi, says he rears 4,000 chickens in his farm.
"About 20 chickens are dying every day. As many as 154 chickens have died in the last seven days."
At least 2,250 eggs were produced a week ago. Currently, 1,650 eggs are being produced in this farm every day, he adds.
Jahabul Haque, president of Bangladesh Poultry Association Ishwardi Branch, says there are 115 farms in 28 villages of the upazila which produce more than 02 lakh eggs a day.
The production cost of an egg is Tk 10.50, but its wholesale price is Tk 9. Farmers are suffering losses due to high production cost.
According to the district livestock department, there are 978 registered layer chicken farms in the district. There are about 500 farms outside this list.
On the other hand, there are 1,130 registered broiler chicken farms. There are about 5.5 million chickens in these farms.
Mr Haque also said: "Chickens are dying from heatstroke in the district."