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The government at present has no plan to allow import of farm eggs to protect the interests of the domestic poultry industry.
If farm egg is imported, the country's developing poultry sector would be massively affected, apprehends the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL).
Even harmful trans-boundary animal diseases like avian flu, Virulent Newcastle Disease (VND), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) or other diseases may break out in the country.
The MoFl made the decision (of not allowing egg import) and expressed the fear at a meeting with the stakeholders held at the ministry on September 25 last.
"According the decision, we have informed it to the ministry of commerce (MoC)," an official of the MoFL said.
Egg import from neighbouring countries including India figured prominently in the meeting where focus was mainly laid on the interests of the local marginal farmers.
The farmers would face huge financial losses and an adverse impact would be created in the sector if the government allows egg import, the official quoted the discussants as saying.
The government wants to market eggs at a reasonable price for consumers through taking necessary steps and local production of such protein source.
The government has already fixed the maximum retail prices (MRP) of eggs but eggs are not available at the government-fixed rates.
Farm eggs (brown) are selling at record high prices in the market hitting all consumers.
A good number of people cannot afford to purchase the most consumed item due to the exorbitantly high prices.
The FE reporter visited some markets in the capital on Friday and found broiler farm eggs were still selling at above the government-fixed prices.
Consumers are paying extra for this item as each egg now costs over Tk3.13 more than the price set.
In the middle of September, 2024, the government announced MRP for egg at Tk11.87 apiece.
Egg now retails at Tk 15 apiece. A 'haali' (four eggs) was priced at Tk 58/60, while price of a dozen of eggs ranged from Tk170 to Tk 175.
"There is no scope to allow egg import for the sake of maintaining continuity of the growth of the local poultry sector," according to a source of the meeting.
Business enterprises want to import eggs to meet the supply deficit and help stabilise price in the market.
They expect that consumers can buy eggs at Tk6.5 or maximum Tk 7.5 apiece from the retail market.
Local poultry farmers said the government has taken an appropriate decision.
It would be suicidal for the local poultry industry as its growth would be badly affected if the government allows egg import, they noted.
Egg production is now stable and local producers can amply meet the domestic demand, according to them.
When contacted, Sumon Hawlader, president of the Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA), said "Import of eggs is not a solution. At first, the government should take action against corporate and Tejgaon area syndicates as currently there is no deficit of egg production in the country."
He claimed that prices of egg have been increased artificially by some large corporate houses.
They are controlling such market. They raise the price of eggs as per their wish.
Insiders suggested that the government take necessary steps to import poultry feed as the sector has to spend an estimated 80 per cent on procuring the food.
Sector insiders have attributed the surge in poultry and egg prices to a rise in prices of feed and day-old-chicks.
Small farmers are selling eggs at lower prices than their production costs. They do not get fair prices of its production until date.
Around 45 million eggs are produced daily in the country. Of them, around 20 per cent is produced by big poultry farms and the rest by small farms in rural areas.
Around 40 million eggs are required daily for meeting the local demand.
Mr. Hawlader suggested ensuring fair prices of eggs that are produced by the marginal farmers.
He also recommended rationalising the prices of poultry feed and day-old-chicks aiming to bring the prices of egg to a tolerable level.
BPA president claimed that the corporate producers show different reasons for the rise in egg prices but these are absolutely false.
Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC) earlier urged the government to significantly reduce tariffs on eggs to bring down its prices by boosting the supply of the most essential item.