Egg production gets boost

Production of eggs in the country has increased steadily over the last decade, thanks to the expansion of poultry industry that came close to meeting the domestic demand.

The annual egg output surged to 17.11 billion pieces in fiscal year (FY) 2018-19 from 4.96 billion in FY 2009, according to the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) data.

Currently, per capita consumption of eggs is 104 pieces annually against the domestic production of 103 eggs, the data showed.

Bangladesh produced 5.74 billion eggs in FY '10, 6.07 billion in FY '11, 7.30 billion in FY '12, 7.61 billion in FY '13, 10.16 billion in FY '14, 10.99 billion in FY '15, 11.91 billion in FY '16, 14.93 billion in FY '17 and 15.52 billion in FY '18.

As many as 81,425 poultry farms have been registered as of August 2019. Of them, 54,411 are broiler chicken farms, 18,954 layer chicken farms and 7,829 duck farms.

Experts said the country could have a better position in terms of egg production if it can control unplanned layer farms, higher price of feed and outbreak of diseases and remove misconception about eggs and raise awareness about nutritional fact of eggs.

Dr M Nazrul Islam, president of Animal Health Companies Association of Bangladesh (AHCAB), said the poultry industry showed a steady growth in the last one decade due to great efforts made by small and commercial poultry farmers.

"One of the achievements of the industry is availability of eggs in the market. Now we can supply eggs as per the demand," he said.

Recent propaganda on health hazards through mass and social media is hurting the industry immensely that should be stopped for greater interest of the sector, he said.

Entrepreneurs should be given single-digit bank loan facility for further development of the poultry sector, he added.

Khondoker Md Mohsin, joint secretary general of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA), said the poultry sector is not witnessing the actual growth as per the DLS's report.

This sector is passing through a tough time, as small and medium entrepreneurs are leaving this sector due to lack of working capital, he told the FE.

Small poultry farmers are now at stake as they are not getting proper support from the government and banks, he said.

Being unable to cope with financial losses, small farms are now being shut down and on the other hand, large poultry farms are enjoying all state facilities, Mr Mohsin said.

"Higher prices of eggs show that the sector is facing a big problem." Many farms may shut down in near future due to higher cost of poultry feed, he said.

The prices of eggs may drop with an increase in its production in the coming days, he hinted.

Dr. Sharif Ahmed Chowdhury, former chief scientific officer at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute (BLRI), said credit goes to young and educated entrepreneurs who have made massive contributions to developing this vital sector.

"This sector is providing self-employment as well as wage employment opportunity reducing the rate of country's unemployment," he told the FE.

To ensure the public health safety, he said, the Ministry of Commerce should work with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock to have a functional standard QC system for exported and imported meat and meat products.

The poultry industry has been showing a strong growth since mid-90s, he mentioned.

Dr ABM Khaleduzzaman, DLS assistant director (farm), said the contribution of DLS to developing the sector is very visible.

DLS is providing services and training as per the needs of poultry farmers and sector insiders. Young and educated entrepreneurs help develop the sector, he said.

Apart from this, the government's appropriate policy, measures and supports help boost the industry, he said, adding that use of modern technology also can accelerate further development of the sector.

Dr Md Elias Hossain, head of poultry science at Bangladesh Agricultural University, said continuous economic growth and consumers' rising purchasing power led to this achievement.

"This is a great success as the country lagged behind in egg production even in FY'18," he told the FE.

People have a tendency not to eat egg as they think it may cause cardiovascular/heart diseases. But in fact, fat in egg yolk is mostly composed of unsaturated fatty acid which may have very little effects on blood cholesterol level, Prof Hossain added.

The poultry industry was hit by bird flu in 2007, 2009 and 2011. The number of farms came down to 55,000 in 2013 from 115,000 in 2007 due to outbreak of diseases along with other problems, a study report said.

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