Poultry farmers demand 6-point reform to curb corporate monopoly

Poultry farmers held a discussion meting at the National Press Club on Wednesday demanding measured to protect them against what they termed corporate monopoly. UNB

The Bangladesh Marginal Poultry Industry Protection Association has urged the government to implement a 6-point demand to rescue marginal poultry farmers from soaring production costs and corporate market manipulation. 

At a roundtable discussion held in Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday, the association's Founding Chairman, Md. Mofijul Islam (Mollik), warned of countrywide protests—including a sit-in program in the capital's Shahbagh wearing shrouds—if their demands are not implemented by August 17.

Speakers at the seminar alleged that despite six years of continuous advocacy, marginal farmers are facing extinction due to the unbridled prices of poultry feed, day-old chicks, and veterinary medicine, compounded by corporate syndication.

"While marginal farmers are failing to secure fair prices for eggs and broiler chickens, intermediaries and syndicates are manipulating the market, causing financial distress for both producers and general consumers," Mofijul Islam stated.

He criticized the continuous involvement of large corporate entities in direct egg and chicken production, which he argued undercuts small-scale farm operations.

The Association's 6-Point Demands:

1. Cap Feed Prices: Reduce and fix the price of 50-kg broiler feed bags between Tk 2,000 and Tk 2,100, and layer/Sonali feed between Tk 1,700 and Tk 1,800, while ensuring feed quality.

2. Regulate Chick Prices: Standardize day-old broiler and layer chick prices between Tk 20 and Tk 25 throughout the year.

3. Ban Corporate Commercial Farming: Restrict feed and chick manufacturing corporate companies from directly producing commercial eggs and ready chickens.

4. Low-Interest Bank Loans: Provide easy-term, low-interest bank loans to small and marginal poultry farmers.

5. Production Cap: Impose a maximum limit of 10,000 birds per individual commercial farmer to prevent market monopolization.

6. State-Run Hatchery Support: Produce and supply broiler, layer, and Sonali chicks through government-run hatcheries at fair prices.

The association announced plans to send a 7-member delegation to meet with government officials at the Bangladesh Secretariat by August 7 to negotiate solutions. 

If the discussions yield no results or the demands remain unfulfilled by August 17, marginal farmers from across the country will gather at Dhaka's Shahbagh intersection on August 29 to launch a hunger strike and road blockade.

Among others, central leaders of the association Imran Ali, Yousul Ali, Kahol Mia, Babla Mia, Mostafa Kamal, and Asraful Islam spoke at the event. - UNB