JHEN1DAH. Oct 9: Poultiy farm owners in the district are facing problems as their products sell below expected prices.

Farm owners are losing Inter est to go for the business mainly due to lack of marketing facility. Farm owners said lack of marketing facility is the main problem they are facing. According to Faridul Islam. 31. of village Gopalpur under Shallakupa upazila of the district, demand for chicken produced in farms Is not high in the district mainly because of conservative eaUng habit. Locals do not like farm chickens. However, eggs produced in farms sell well in local markets.

In different markets of the district. broiler chickens are sold between Tk 50 and Tk 55 per kilogram while the Indigenous variety’ between Tk 80 and 90 a kg.

Farid said he thought that his farm would help to remove his financial hardship, but the dream did not come true.

The frustrated y'oung man said he had spent at least Taka 25 thousand in 45 days during the fattening of the chickens, but the sale proceeds did not exceed Taka 29 thousand.

Some other farm owners said if the situation continues we shall be forced to close down the farms.

When contacted Mahbubur Rahman, upazila livestock officer of Shallakupa. said actually there is no demand for broiler chicken here right now. Most of the consumers. especially the village people, prefer local variety'.

He said although the broiler variety is enriched with food value and free from worms, rural people do not prefer it.

A source with the district livestock office said a total of 55 poultry farms exist in the district and most of these are located in Shallakupa upazila.