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Egg import deals another blow to poultry farmers

UNB, Dhaka
Country's poultry industry is facing another setback following the government's recent decision on lifting restriction on import of eggs from India.
A fear of uncertainty has gripped the poultry farmers who have been trying to recoup their losses caused by bird flu outbreak earlier, observed the poultry farmers.
"The poultry farmers, who suffered heavy losses due to bird flu epidemic, are hesitating to reopen their farms following the government decision of importing eggs." Gazi Hossain, managing director of Aqua Breeders Limited (ABL). told die news agency.
He. however, said die farmers had started to resume their farms following improvement in the bird flu situation and were getting better prices before the decision came on importing eggs from India.
The bird flu outbreak, which swept the poultry industry in 2007 and early 2008, forced nearly a half of 1.5 lakh poultry farms in the country to shut down.
The investment in the poultry sector dropped to around Tk 6,000 crore from Tk 13.000 crore before the flu outbreak, according to the poultry business entrepreneurs.
Gazi said around 60 percent poultry breeding farms had to be closed during the outbreak due to non-
cooperation of the government us well as the banks.
"At least 20 hugely invested poultry farms of Rajshahi region were closed down after the flu outbreak," he added.
ABL. the first grand parent poultry farm in the country, was one of the affected farms of the region.
The people related to the industry expressed their deep concern that the government decision to import eggs from India, a bird flu affected country, risks another outbreak here like the previous year.
“The government is going to destroy the poultry industry in the country, which might be hit again by the same flu through import of eggs from India," said Mashiur Rahman, general secretary of Bangladesh Poultry Breeders Association.
He said the government has taken a wrong decision for bringing down the prices of eggs as it marked an upward trend in the local market due to increased production cost.
“Import of eggs cannot be a good decision, rather the decision can destroy the country's poultry industry instead of having any marked impact on the egg prices."
Kazi Zahedul Hasan, managing director of Kazi Farm Ltd, said the prices of eggs shot up at the local market because of insufficient production.
He, however, said egg production would increase
early next year as many of the farmers are reopening their farms, adding: "So, the govern -ment should monitor the price situation a little longer before opting for imports."
Kazi said the poultry farm owners are now pursuing a 'wait and see' policy about reopening their farms as the future of poultry industry is not clear.
He apprehended that bird flu virus might spread again in the poultry farms through the import of eggs from India.