Loss-making farmers find relief as broiler price increases before Eid

The price of broiler chicken has increased in urban chicken markets. Industry sources say that demand for chicken usually increases before Eid-ul-Fitr as consumers buy more chicken during this time.

Broiler chicken farmers say they have suffered losses for for most of the last 12 months, when the price was low. The price increase before Eid helped them recover some of the losses they have made.

Many chicken farms have also suffered disease outbreaks, which have reduced the supply of chicken, and have also contributed to the sudden price increase.

Abu Hanifa (37), a farmer and owner of Khaja Poultry Feed and Medicine Corner, at Birajnagar Bazar, in Shibpur, Narsingdi, told the author on 13 March that the broiler price increased due to higher demand and lower supply. He said that more than 50 percent of the farms in his area have been affected by the diseases, which caused mortality and reduced supply.

He said that in Shibpur, farmers recently sold chicken at between Tk 180 and Tk 198 per kilogram. In February they sold at about Tk 145; in January they sold at between Tk 136 and Tk 145; in December they sold at between Tk 120 and Tk 130; and in November they sold at between Tk 135 and Tk 140.  Abu Hanifa said that if the present high price continues for a few months, farmers like him will be able to recover the losses they made when the price was low.

Md Jahitul Haque (41) runs a poultry farm of seven sheds with capacity to grow 22-23 thousand chickens. He also owns Mayer Doa Poultry Feed and Medicine Corner at Sonakura C&B Bazar in Shibpur. According to him, "the price has been good for farmers during the past one month. But in the previous 10 months, 9 months were bad, with only one good month," he said.  "Some farmers benefit from the increased price, while others are still incurring losses due to high mortality rate."

A female entrepreneur, Jewena Begum (36), assisted by her husband and two sons, runs a farm of two sheds which grow 3,500 chickens in Boilabo, Shibpur. She sold 1,600 chickens on 12 March and made a handsome profit. She said, "we never expected such profit during Ramadan."

Md Rabiulla (35), a senior school teacher, started poultry farming with 500 chickens at his village home in Dopathor, Shibpur 16 years ago when he was a student. Now, he owns six sheds growing 20,000 chickens. He said that he incurred losses for months, and that he is finally making profit, because chickens died of diseases on other farms. This has reduced supply and has made the price increase. He said, "whoever survives in this business makes profit eventually. After a period of low prices, the market improves."