The government plans to bring small and medium-sized poultry farmers under a concessional loan programme similar to agricultural credit, aiming to ease financing constraints and strengthen an industry grappling with persistently high production costs.
State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku announced the initiative on Saturday at a poultry farmers’ meeting organised by the Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA) in Tangail.
He said the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock would take the necessary steps to ensure poultry farmers can access loans on easier terms, recognising that limited access to affordable finance remains a key challenge for smaller producers.
The move comes as the poultry sector continues to face rising feed prices, volatile raw material costs and higher production expenses, squeezing farmers’ margins and putting upward pressure on poultry prices.
The state minister said the government was also working to reduce production costs, keep feed prices at a tolerable level and strengthen the long-term sustainability of the poultry industry while ensuring the production of safe food.
He said the ministry had already held several rounds of discussions with BPIA leaders, feed manufacturers, raw material suppliers and day-old chick producers to identify practical measures to reduce costs across the supply chain.
“We will work with all stakeholders to bring these costs to a manageable level,” he said.
Tuku also said poultry farmers would be brought under the government’s agricultural card programme, enabling them to access a range of public support services more easily.
Under the initiative, agricultural cards will be distributed in phases across every upazila as part of the implementation of the next national budget. The government plans to issue 43 lakh agricultural cards this year before gradually extending the programme to all farmers, including poultry producers.
The state minister also called for stricter oversight of antibiotic use in poultry farming, directing livestock officials to strengthen field-level monitoring and urging farmers to use antibiotics only on the advice of registered veterinarians to safeguard food safety.
