Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem on local poultry farming

Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem on local poultry farming, at the roundtable on “Poultry Industry-Media Cooperation,” organised by Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) at the National Press Club on Wednesday, 9 July 2014.

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Published in Dhaka Tribune

Bangladesh becomes self-sufficient in poultry products

Tribune Report

The country has achieved self-sufficiency in production, but the local farmers are now facing losses due to the lack of coordination between the demand and supply

The country’s poultry industry has achieved self-sufficiency in meeting local demand for meat and eggs, a roundtable was told in Dhaka yesterday.

The industry is now producing 1,500 tonnes of poultry meat against the target of 1,400 tonnes per day while 1.6 crore eggs against the demand for 1.5 crore and 95 lakh pieces of chicken against a demand for 85 lakh pieces of chicken, industry insiders informed the meeting.

As a result, the industry has now exportable surplus.

“The local producers has been making additional production in the last few months while the investments has now crossed Tk25,000crore and will be doubled within 2030 if the government supports the sector properly,” convener of  Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) Moshiur Rahman said.

Admitting the lack of sequence between supply and production, he said the industry would soon cover that up and will start working towards establishing a media cell to help media getting proper information on the sector.

He was addressing at the roundtable titled “Poultry Industry-Media Cooperation” at the National Press Club yesterday. BPICC has organised the programme to enhance cooperation between the poultry entrepreneurs and the media for building a brand image of the industry.

Presenting the keynote speech, Centre for Policy and Dialogue additional research director K G Moazzem said the country has achieved self-sufficiency in production, but the local farmers are now facing losses due to the lack of coordination between the demand and supply.

The demands for the products are gradually increasing, but the sector is failing to export the products due to lack of balance between the demand and supply, resulting in putting up the shutters of 2,500 firms, he said.

The industry, which is now considered as the second employment generating sector of the country, was hit hard by the bird flu in 2007 and 2009 as the number of poultry firms were reduced to 55,000 in 2013 from 1,15,000 in 2007. The industry is now contributing around 1% of the Gross Domestic Product.

“Despite having export potential, Bangladesh could not export due to lack of maintaining international standard for having the risk of avian influenza virus by the chicken and lack of sufficient safeguard mechanism at the firm level to protect the affects of the virus,” he said.

The CPD researcher suggested the industry to take support from media to change the behavioral things inside the consumers mind through the use of digital and IT based tools, massive advertisement campaigns, and by using the non-traditional media like community radios.

Former director general at Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute Khan Shahidul Haque suggested the industry to focus on some value addition in its products in the market for minimising gaps between supply and production.

Addressing the roundtable, speakers suggested the entrepreneurs to expedite the process of establishing the poultry board by lobbying with the government and establish a media bank or cell where newsmen could get necessary information while preparing a report on the sector.

Boishakhi Television editor-in-chief and CEO Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul suggested the producers to make international standard products to compete with global companies in the export arena.

Regarding the negative news which creates panic among people, he said an information cell is needed to minimise the wrong information, which sometimes published at the media for lack of available resources.

“Bolster connection among the industry insiders and with the government. After establishment of internal interaction, media will automatically be a part of the campaign,” he said, adding that the sector insiders should work on implementation of the plan to establish a poultry board through huge campaigns.

The programme was moderated by Jamuna Television head of business Zakaria Kajol while Dhaka Tribune editor Zafar Sobhan, Prothom Alo joint editor Sohrab Hasan, Kazi Farms Limited director Kazi Zahin Hasan, Breeders Association of Bangladesh Secretary General Saidur Rahman Babu also spoke among others.

 

Published in The Financial Express

BD achieves autarky in eggs, chicken meat production, say researchers

FE Report

Poultry industry leaders and researchers said Wednesday that Bangladesh has achieved self-sufficiency in eggs and meat production and it can supply adequate protein against the present demand.

They also identified some countries like India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and Middle East that are very potential to be export market for our surplus poultry products where the demand for protein- based items is growing rapidly.

“Currently, the industry produces a total of 1500 metric tonnes (mt) chicken meat against the existing demand of 1400 mts”, said Dr KG Moazzem, additional research director of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

He was presenting the keynote paper at a roundtable discussion styled ‘Poultry Industry-Media Cooperation’.

Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) organised the discussion at the National Press Club.

BPICC Convener Moshiur Rahman presided over the discussion. Editor- in- Chief and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Boishakhi Television Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul addressed the event as chief guest while Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, Prothom Alo Joint Editor Sohrab Hasan and the industry representatives among others, were present as penal discussants.

Quoting statistics from the Egg Producers Association (EPA), the CPD researcher Mr Moazzem said the industry is producing nearly 16 million eggs everyday against the demand for 15 million eggs.

Every week, the local farms produce almost 10 million chickens while the total demand is nearly 9 million, resulting in a considerable surplus in the chicken meat production.

Terming the sector the second largest employment provider after the country’s ready-made garment (RMG), the CPD researcher said total investment in the sector stands at about Tk 250 billion maintaining nearly 20 per cent growth rate as the size was only Tk 15 billion in 1990s.

The sector is providing employment to 6 million workers sharing almost one per cent of the total gross domestic expenditure (GDE), whereas beef contribute almost 1.5 per cent.

However, the flow of investment in the sector couldn’t maintain consistency over the years, rather the industry faced tough times including man-made political turmoil or various diseases recurrently.

The industry has been eyeing better business prospect considering increased rate of consumption in the upcoming days. Referring to data from an English business daily, the CPD researcher said the consumption of meat in developing countries grew by nearly 70 million mts from 26 million mts during the last five years.

Mr Rahman identified lack of policy support from the government to develop the potential sector that is largely contributing to sound health. “We don’t get necessary support from the government”, he added.

He also demanded cold storage facilities so that the producers can store their unsold products in order to bring down their losses during political crisis like shutdown.

According to the world health organisation (WHO) and Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), individual consumption of the meat by the Bangladeshi people is about 15.23 kg per year against the required 43.8kg per person.

 

Published in The Independent

‘Farms face trouble for excessive production’

Poultry sector

The country’s poultry sector is facing a setback due to excessive production of meat and egg compared to the demand, claimed the poultry industry leaders, reports UNB.

“Some 1,500 metric tonnes of poultry meat is being produced in the country daily against the demand of 1,400 metric tones, while the daily egg production is 1.60 crore pieces against the demand of 1.50 crore,” secretary general of Breeders Association of Bangladesh (BAB) Saidur Rahman Babu told a discussion here on Wednesday. Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) organised the discussion, titled ‘Poultry Industry-Media Cooperation Vital for Healthy & Meritorious Bangladesh’, at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital.

Expressing concern over the low demand of poultry products, Saidur Rahman said the poultry farmers are selling eggs at Tk 5.50 to Tk 5.75 per piece against the production cost of Tk 6.50.

“Thus, the poultry industry has been facing losses over the last couple of months.”

BPICC convener Mosiur Rahman said investment on poultry sector has now exceeded Tk 25,000 crore. “If the government helps the farmers, it may increase to Tk 50,000 crore by 2030,” he said.

Speaking on the occasion, economist Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem said the poultry industry contributes 1 per cent to the country’s GDP while at least 60 lakh people are involved in the sector, but the industry lacks support form the government.

He said the poultry industry is one of the promising sectors for employment generation. “So, a poultry board should be formed to coordinate activities of the local poultry farmers.” Additional Director (research) of Centre for Policy Dialogue Dr Moazzem stressed the need for forming a data bank to help the media and other stakeholders get information related to the poultry industry.

Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Boishakhi TV Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said the poultry sector is related to people’s daily needs so the relation between the media and poultry industries should be improved.

Chaired by BPICC convener Mosiur Rahman, the meeting was addressed, among others, by Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan, Prothom Alo joint editor Sohrab Hossain.

Members of Feed Industries Association of Bangladesh (FIAB), Breeders Association of Bangladesh (BAB), Egg Producers’ Association of Bangladesh (EPAB), Animal Health Companies Association of Bangladesh (AHCAB), and World’s Poultry Science Association -Bangladesh Branch (WPSA-BB) were also present at the meeting.

 

Published in The Observer

Discussants at roundtable
Bangladesh self-sufficient in egg, meat production

Observer Online Report

Poultry industry leaders and researchers at a roundtable discussion in Dhaka Wednesday said Bangladesh is self-sufficient in eggs and meat production as it can supply adequate protein against the current demand.

The local companies are taking preparation to export their products after fulfilling the domestic demand, they said in roundtable on Poultry Industry-Media Cooperation at the National Press Club in Dhaka, they said.

The discussants recommended enhancing cooperation between the poultry entrepreneurs and the media for building a brand image of the industry.

The Bangladesh Poultry Industry Coordination Committee (BPICC) organised the roundtable discussion where Additional Research Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Khandker Golam Moazzem presented a keynote.

Moderated by the Head of News of the Jamuna Television Zakaria Kajol, Editor-in-Chief of the Boishakhi Television Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul was present as chief guest. The programme was attended by the Daily Dhaka Tribune Editor Jafar Sobhan, Joint Editor of the Daily Prothom Alo Sohrab Hossain also attended as special guests with Moshiur Rahman, Convenor of the BPICC, in the chair.

The CPD researcher Dr Moazzam said the poultry industry alone has a contribution of nearly one per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP), Tk 25,000 crore investment, 6,00,000 employments and supply of adequate protein against the present demand.

Although the poultry industry is the second largest job creation sector in Bangladesh after the ready-made garment, it is still neglected.

He urged the government to set up a separate “Poultry Board” for the local industry. Dr Moazzem has also laid emphasis on formation of a data bank to help the media and other stakeholders.

The researcher said although the national consumption has been boosted to Tk 8,600 crore annually in last year 2013 from that of Tk 5,700 crore in 2010, this sector hasn’t get adequate policy support from the government.

Journalist Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul said although the locally poultry industry is an important sector, it is still neglected.

“Since the contribution of this sector is very important to Bangladesh’s economy, the cooperation between the industry and media is imperative.”

The industry should work to enhance its capacity and skill in addition to grab the export market across the globe.

Zafor Sobhan, Editor of the Daily Dhaka Tribune, said since the poultry sector is one of the important contributor to the economy, the media should focus more on its problems, success and challenges. He urged the government to frame a policy which would protect the local industry.

Sohrab Hossain of the Daily Prothom Alo urged the government to change its policy on the struggling local poultry sector. He urged the industry people to boost communication with the media to flourish the industry.

Director of the Kazi Farm Kazi Zahin Hasan said if the media check with the poultry industry people before writing a report it can avoid mistakes or partial mistakes.

Moshir Rahman said the investment in the poultry industry has so far crossed Tk 25,000 crore-mark which could be boosted to Tk 50,000 crore by the year 2030 if the government facilitate it.

Saidur Rahman Babu of the Bangladesh Breeders Association (BBA) said some 1500 metric ton of poultry meat is being produced against the daily demand of 1400MT daily, 1.60 crore pieces of eggs against the demand for 1.50 pieces.

“The poultry farmers are selling eggs at Tk 5.50 to Tk 5.75 per piece against the production cost of Tk 6.50. Thus the poultry industry is facing losses in recent years,” he said.

BBA president Fazle Rahim Khan Shahriar said the annual commercial production of the poultry feed in Bangladesh is nearly 20 lakh MT against the demand for 22 lakh MT.

The poultry industry people said the meat and the eggs in the poultry industry is fully safe for the daily meal.

 

Published on BSS Online

Investment in poultry industry exceeds 25,000 crore: Speaker

Speakers at a discussion today said that the investment in poultry industry has exceeded Taka 25,000 crore and if the industry receive more help from the government the investment will surpass Taka 50,000 crore mark in 2030.

Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) organized the roundtable discussion titled ”Poultry-Industry and Cooperation of Media’ at the conference room of the National Press Club.

Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Boishakhi TV Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul was the chief guest of the discussion while Head of News of Jamuna TV Jakaria Kajal moderated the programme with Convener of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee (BPICC) Moshiur Rahman in the chair.

Editor of Dhaka Tribune Zafar Sobhan, Joint Editor of Prothom Alo Sohrab Hossain, Business Editor of Daily Samakal Zakir Hossain, Dipu Hassan from Ekattor Television and Rezaul Karim Siddiqi from Banglavision Tv participated the discussion.

Additional Research Director of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) Dr Khandoker Golam Moazzem presented the key note paper.

The BPICC leaders said that the poultry industry is ready to fulfill the demand of this country and in the near future this industry could be exporting poultry products.

The entrepreneurs of this sector demanded to form ‘Poultry Board’ as it is the second large employment sector.

This industry has immense potential for boosting the economic growth of the country as well as ensuring food security, said the speakers.