Poultry assoc demands egg storage facilities for small farmers

The Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA) has called for the setting up of egg storage facilities for small-scale farmers, along with the formation of a monitoring team comprising relevant poultry organisations. 

They also demanded the implementation of an egg preservation policy.

At a press conference at the association's head office in the capital today (25 March), Khandaker Mohammad Mohsin, secretary general of BPIA and owner of United Agro Complex, said, "Small farmers were fined last year for storing eggs, and since there's no clear policy, they're afraid of penalties and aren't storing eggs this year." 

He added that if eggs could be stored in cold facilities during Ramadan, it would help stabilise the market after Eid when demand increases.

Highlighting the seasonal nature of egg consumption, he mentioned that demand typically decreases during Ramadan because educational institutions remain closed and overall egg consumption drops. This decline in demand leads to a surplus of unsold eggs, pushing prices further down.

Farmers face losses

"The current production cost per egg is Tk11.64. However, the prices at Farmgate in the capital are currently Tk9.10, and at the beginning of Ramadan, eggs were sold for Tk7 to Tk7.50. Despite the government setting the price at Tk10.58 per egg at the farm level, farmers are still forced to sell at a loss.

"As a result, many small farmers are shutting down their farms due to significant financial losses," Mohsin said.

"Currently, eggs are sold at Tk115-120 per dozen in the capital, which is the same as last year's Ramadan prices. However, at other times of the year, the price can go up to Tk160 per dozen," he added.

He further proposed forming a monitoring team with the Department of Livestock Services, the Department of Agricultural Marketing, and the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection to assist registered farmers in storing eggs during periods of low demand in major egg-producing districts.

Citing practices in other countries, he said, "In several Indian states, eggs are stored at temperatures between 8-13°C for up to a year. However, no cold storage facilities for eggs exist in Bangladesh." 

"We have submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Livestock, advocating for policies that ensure fair prices for both consumers and farmers throughout the year," he also added.

Speaking at the event, Anjan Majumdar, an executive member of BPIA, noted that they had previously informed the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection about the need for a storage policy. 

"The directorate then inquired with the Department of Livestock Services about how long eggs can be stored in cold facilities, but we have received no further updates since then. We demand a clear policy outlining how much and for how long a farmer can store eggs, with oversight from local poultry-related offices," he said.

The association also urged the government to provide financial and policy support to sustain small-scale poultry entrepreneurs. 

Farmers from various districts shared their challenges and hardships during the event.