Strong hatchery performance, skilled workforce vital sustainable growth of poultry industry: Speakers

Speakers at a high-level workshop have stressed the need to improve hatchery quality and workforce skills to ensure the sustainable growth of Bangladesh’s poultry sector.

A key challenge identified is the excessive fluctuation in chick (Day-Old Chicks- DOC) production, which is causing instability in supply and pricing, ultimately threatening small-scale hatcheries and market balance, they said.

Fluctuations in chicken prices significantly impact the production of Day-Old Chicks (DOCs). When market prices are high, hatcheries often respond with overproduction, which eventually drives down prices and affects profitability for both hatcheries and farmers, the speakers stated.  

Conversely, when chicken prices fall, DOC production declines sharply, leading to shortages of poultry and eggs. This cyclical imbalance contributes to market volatility and poses serious sustainability challenges for hatchery operators.

This concern was raised during the closing ceremony of a three-day training workshop titled ‘Hatchery Management’, held from June 16 to 18 at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka, according to a media release.  

The event was part of the PoultryTechBangladesh project and was jointly organised by Larive International, LightCastle Partners, Axon Limited, and Royal Pas Reform, with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The objective of the workshop was to provide practical recommendations and technical guidance to hatchery owners, staff, and other stakeholders on building and operating modern, high-quality hatcheries aligned with global standards.

In addition to production fluctuations, the training highlighted several pressing challenges in the sector: Hatching inefficiencies, inadequate storage and transportation, poor hatchery management, lack of modern incubation technology, environmental impact and disease outbreaks, limited access to advanced technology, shortage of skilled manpower, marketing and distribution challenges, the release says.

Speakers emphasised that these issues can be addressed through improved production planning and farm management tailored to market demand.

Osman Haruni, Senior Policy Advisor at the Embassy of the Netherlands in Bangladesh; Mostafa Kamal, Secretary of the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Central Council (BPICC); and Zahidul Islam, Managing Director of Axon Limited, were among the distinguished speakers at the event.

The keynote presentation on the PoultryTechBangladesh project was delivered by Naziba Ali, Business Analyst at LightCastle Partners.

Participants highlighted that hatchery quality relies heavily on the use of advanced equipment, accurate hatching and incubation techniques, a conducive production environment, and a well-trained workforce.

The workshop also stressed the importance of strengthening collaboration between Dutch technology providers and Bangladeshi companies to build a modern, tech-driven poultry sector, according to the release.

Training sessions were conducted by Gerd de Lange, Senior Poultry Specialist, and Lotte Hebnick, Incubation Specialist, both representing Royal Pas Reform, a global leader in hatchery solutions.

A notable feature of the training was its focus on practical, hands-on knowledge in addition to theoretical learning.

According to the latest data from BPICC, there are currently an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 hatcheries in Bangladesh.

The sector employs around 6 million people, directly and indirectly. Demand for processed poultry products continues to rise steadily. Between 2016 and 2022, daily per capita chicken meat consumption increased from 17.3 grams to 26.2 grams.

The commercial poultry industry is growing at an annual rate of approximately 15 per cent, producing around 23.37 billion eggs and 1.46 million metric tons of poultry meat per year.

Industry representatives noted that the poultry sector contributes approximately 1.6 per cent to Bangladesh’s GDP.

With poultry product demand expected to double by 2050, the sector holds significant potential for growth.

However, realising this potential will require focused investment in hatchery modernisation, infrastructure development, and workforce skill enhancement, the release adds.