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The country's poultry sector, a Tk 500 billion industry, is staring at a massive collapse as some 5.0 to 6.0 million jobs are now at risk due to "unrestrained corporate monopoly" and "syndicate-driven market volatility".
At a press conference held on Saturday at the Shofiqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters' Unity, leaders of the Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA) warned that while consumers are paying high prices, marginal farmers are being pushed out of business by a cyclical syndicate of large corporate groups and dishonest middlemen.
To protect marginal poultry farmers and ensure stability in the sector, the BPA has placed a six-point demand.
The demands include issuing farmer cards for marginal farmers; conducting a swift investigation and taking strict action against syndicate groups and corporate dominance; ensuring transparency in the market for chicks, feed, and medicines; formulating effective policies to guarantee protection and fair prices for small farmers; establishing a syndicate-free and stable market for eggs and poultry; and providing easy-term loans and incentives for marginal producers.
Revealing a grim picture of the grassroots production level, the BPA leaders said, marginal farmers have been incurring a loss of Tk 40-50 per kg of chicken and Tk 3.0-Tk 4.0 per egg against their actual production costs over the last seven months.
"The market is being manipulated by a few large corporate groups and an unholy alliance involving certain members of the The Tejgaon Egg Merchants' Association and corrupt officials," stated Suman Howlader, President of the BPA.
The association highlighted a disturbing trend during peak demand periods like Shab-e-Barat, Ramadan, and Eid. The price of day-old chicks, which typically costs Tk 30 was hiked and sold to Tk 80-Tk 90 by corporate entities.
"These companies are securing their profits 30 days before the chicken even reaches the market," the BPA leaders stated.
The BPA warned that this systematic marginalisation is forcing thousands of farmers to shut down their farms and change professions. This trend poses a direct threat to the country's food security, as the entire protein supply chain is moving towards an absolute corporate monopoly.
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