Heatwave, load-shedding put livestock farmers in tight spot | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Thursday
June 12, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025
Heatwave, load-shedding put livestock farmers in tight spot

Bangladesh

Shawkat Ali
06 June, 2023, 10:20 am
Last modified: 06 June, 2023, 10:28 am

Related News

  • Dozens of livestock carcasses float in Meghna River in Lakshmipur after tidal surge
  • Manikganj produces 125,864.5 tonnes of onion this season
  • Potato farmers in Rajshahi lament as prices plummet amid lack of storage
  • Waste to wealth: Growing potential of Black Soldier Fly farming in Bangladesh
  • Re-WET Dhaka: A project to rejuvenate the city's lakes

Heatwave, load-shedding put livestock farmers in tight spot

Livestock farmers said the price of cows in the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha may increase by 20%

Shawkat Ali
06 June, 2023, 10:20 am
Last modified: 06 June, 2023, 10:28 am
Heatwave, load-shedding put livestock farmers in tight spot

Livestock and poultry farmers are facing a double blow as the ongoing heatwave is putting their animals at risk of heatstroke and the effort to keep them cool amid prolonged load shedding is amplifying their operating costs.

Amanullah Munshi's farm in Feni has 2,500 chickens in two sheds. Dozens of chickens have been dying on his farm every day for the past week due to 16-17 hours of load shedding.

Fearing his farm may run out of chickens, Mushi said the condition is bad, every day chickens are dying of heatstroke. He cannot even use fans to cool them off due to heavy load shedding and no generator.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Suman Howladar, president of the Bangladesh Poultry Association, told The Business Standard that chickens are dying in large numbers at small and medium-sized farms across the country. 

"The main reason for this is load shedding. If this persists, small farmers will not survive," he said.

Small and medium farmers across the country are in the same situation as Munshi, causing a reduction in meat production in the country. 

This is forcing farmers not to produce new chicks, resulting in its price to drop.

Farmers said those using generators have to buy extra fuel worth Tk1,500-Tk1,800 per day.

Md Suman, a poultry farmer in Narsingdi said he is having a hard time keeping his chickens alive even by using generators in load shedding.

Faced with 18 hours of load shedding a day, Suman said he is spending Tk1,800 each day on fuel.

Ramzan Ali, a poultry consultant in Narsingdi said most of the chicken deaths are because of excessive heat.

"Temperature above 30 degrees Celsius is a problem for poultry. On top of that, when there is load shedding, small farmers can not cope," he said.

Abu Lutfe Fazle Rahim Khan, managing director of Aftab Bahumukhi Farms Limited told TBS Bangladesh's poultry sector is going through unprecedented challenges for the last few years. 

"We expect that the government will come up with a comprehensive policy for rescuing this sector. Special attention is needed by the highest authority of the country. Hope we will get this attention and the sector will rebound soon," he added.

Lovestock ahead of Eid-ul-Azha 

Meanwhile, with less than a month left before Eid-ul-Azha, farmers are desperately trying to keep their livestock healthy.

They have to rely on generators for regular use of fans and electricity. In doing so, the cost is increasing.

Although there are no reports of cows and goats dying, cattle farmers are forced to spend extra on generators.

Due to this, livestock farmers said the price of fattened cows in the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha may increase by 20%.

Kazi Mohammad Abu Sufian, managing director of Ashulia's Shikar Agro Farm, told TBS that "Cows need to be fanned regularly, which we cannot do due to constant load shedding."

Running generators for a large part of the day is adding to their operating cost, he added.

The chances of cows having a heatstroke have increased several times due to excessive heat, he said. "To handle the situation, we have to hire additional manpower on the farm."

Savar Upazila Animal Resources Officer Md Sajedul Islam told TBS that farmers are forced to manage the situation with generators, resulting in an overall 15%-20% cost increase.

"Many farmers keep animals for Eid-ul-Adha sales, so this additional cost will affect the price of these animals in the market," he added.

Large farms

Industrial-grade broilers, feed and chicken producers are facing the heat as well.

The entrepreneurs of the sector said due to load shedding and reduced demand, the production of feed decreased by more than one lakh tonnes in May alone.

On average, more than 4.5 lakh tonnes of food is needed every month in large chicken, chicken and cow-goat farms, they mentioned.

The managing director of a leading feed mill and poultry production company told TBS that it is very difficult to run a feed mill with 14-hour load shedding.

In this situation, the cost of producing chicks has doubled, but the price has dropped, he said, adding "The price of chicks has fallen below the cost of production and is now selling between Tk15-Tk25

 

 

 

Top News

livestock / farming

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    UK crime agency now freezes assets of ex-land minister Saifuzzaman: AJ
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus speaks at the Chatham House in London on 11 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    No desire to be part of next elected govt: CA Yunus
  • File photo of BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury. Photo: Collected
    Khasru flies to London ahead of Yunus-Tarique meeting

MOST VIEWED

  • Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS
    Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon
  • A file photo of Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur. Photo: Collected
    'I have no relation with this': Ahsan Mansur debunks Joy’s allegations over daughter’s Dubai flat
  • Faiz Ahmad Tayeb. Photo: BSS
    Import duty on raw materials for e-bikes, lithium batteries reduced from 80% to 1% in some cases: Faiz Taiyeb
  • File photo of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Photo: Collected
    Joy spends Eid with Hasina in India: Indian media
  • Mercantile Bank withholds dividend amid Tk1,700cr provision shortfall
    Mercantile Bank withholds dividend amid Tk1,700cr provision shortfall
  • Shakil Ahmed. Photo: Collected
    DU student allegedly hangs himself following threats over old derogatory comment about Prophet on Facebook

Related News

  • Dozens of livestock carcasses float in Meghna River in Lakshmipur after tidal surge
  • Manikganj produces 125,864.5 tonnes of onion this season
  • Potato farmers in Rajshahi lament as prices plummet amid lack of storage
  • Waste to wealth: Growing potential of Black Soldier Fly farming in Bangladesh
  • Re-WET Dhaka: A project to rejuvenate the city's lakes

Features

Among pet birds in the country, lovebirds are the most common, and they are also the most numerous in the haat. Photo: Junayet Rashel

Where feathers meet fortune: How a small pigeon stall became Dhaka’s premiere bird market

7h | Panorama
Illustration: Duniya Jahan/ TBS

Forget Katy Perry, here’s Bangladesh’s Ruthba Yasmin shooting for the moon

1d | Features
File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

2d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

4d | Bangladesh

More Videos from TBS

Why is Omicron XBB more contagious?

Why is Omicron XBB more contagious?

4h | TBS Stories
What did Dr. Yunus say at the Chatham House Dialogue in London?

What did Dr. Yunus say at the Chatham House Dialogue in London?

5h | TBS Today
News of The Day, 11 JUNE 2025

News of The Day, 11 JUNE 2025

6h | TBS News of the day
WB predicts worst decade for global growth since 60s

WB predicts worst decade for global growth since 60s

7h | TBS Stories
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net