Poultry farms winding up business in Patuakhali

A poultry farm at Khajur Baria village in Baufal upazila of Patuakhali district lies empty as the owner has closed the business after incurring losses due to unreasonable rise in the price of chicks and poultry feed. Photo: STAR

Over 200 of around 1000 poultry farms in the district closed following unusual price hike of chicks and poultry feed during the last one year.
Hundreds of people, mostly youths, have become jobless due to the situatuin.
Sources at Patuakhali district livestock office said there are 705 registered poultry farms in seven upazilas under the district.
Besides, there are about 300 unregistered poultry farms in the district.
"We are facing losses in this business as price of chicks and their feed has risen too high. We bought one-day chick for Tk 20 to 25 at par only a year ago but now it rose to Tk 70 to 75," said Monir Hossain, a poultry farm owner and seller at New Market in the town.
"Hatchery owners raised price of chicks through forming a syndicate. I have closed my lone farm after losing Tk about one lakh in last year," he added.
"Five years ago, I set up my farm on my yard where I can rear up 1000 chickens at a time. I closed my farm a year ago after facing loss. I bought a 50-kg sack of feed for Tk 700 to 800 one year ago but now it sells at Tk 1,600. Earlier I earned Tk 10,000 per month from my farm," said Mojibur Rahman Sikder of Kalikapur area under Sadar upazila.
Mostafa Sarder, another farm owner at Daspara in Baufal upazila, said, "My farm set up at a cost of Tk over 75,000 remains empty for a year as I closed the business after facing loss. Earlier I earned Tk 5,000 to 8,000 per month by selling poultry."
Saiful Islam, a firm owner of Khajur Baria under Baufal upazila told, "I had 1,200 chickens but closed the business in June last year as we have to count loss of Tk 10 to 20 per kg chicken due to price of chicks and feed. Now one-day-old chick is sold at Tk 70 to 75 and one has to spend at least Tk 80 more to grow one kg each. But he can sell one kg poultry for Tk 130 to 140. So I am looking for others business."
Many other poultry farm owners have similar tale to tell.
Farm owners have demanded that the government take step to control price of chicks and its feed to help this industry play a vital role in the national economy.
Poultry farm owners across the country observed programmes demanding reduction of price of chickens and feed in June this year.
Admitting closure of may farms due to price hike of chicks and poultry feed, District Livestock Officer Gourango Roy said price of the items should be reduced to meet the situation.