BFDA calls for soybean meal export ban again

Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association (BDFA) called for fast withdrawal of the government’s decision to export soybean meal, as the decision will ultimately cause price hike for dairy, poultry and fisheries related food items.

BDFA made the call at a press conference in the National Press Club on Sunday.

“Amid the global supply chain crisis, the commerce ministry had stopped the export of soybean meal following demand from farmers. However, earlier this month they issued a circular allowing the export of soybean meal on a case-to-case basis for different industrial groups,” BDFA President Mohammed Imran Hossain said at the press conference.

“Due to the recent decision, the price of this animal feed ingredient has hiked from Tk 44-45 to Tk 55-56 in the local market,” he said, adding that 25-30 per cent soybean meal and 50-55 per cent maize is used in making animal feed.

The association claimed that in the last three years, the price of animal feed has hiked 30-40 per cent, which further hiked the production cost of meat 25-30 per cent.

On the other hand, the price of beef has hiked 18 per cent. Three years ago, the price was Tk 550, which is now Tk 650, they mentioned.

In the last six months, the price of each sack of wheat husk hiked from Tk 1,040 to Tk 1,500 and chickpea husk Tk 650 to Tk 1,150, while the price of each kg of soybean meal hiked from Tk 45 to Tk 56.

Whenever the price of one ingredient raises, syndicates form and hike the prices of other ingredients as well, the BDFA president claimed.

“A hike in the price of feed means a hike in production cost. This hike puts pressure on the farmers as well as the consumers,” he said.

Bangladesh requires around 18-20 lakh tonnes of soybean meal per year. 75-80 per cent of the ingredient comes from local seed crushing mills, while the remaining 20-25 per cent has to be imported.

While the country is already dependent on soybean meal import, then why is export being allowed, the association posed the question at the press conference.

If the ministry doesn’t ban the export of soybean meals soon, the production cost of meat, eggs and fish will rise and the price of these food ingredients will rise beyond the reach of consumers in the forthcoming holy month of Ramadan, the BFDA president warned.

In the press conference, BFDA accused that the Department of Livestock Services tends to turn a blind eye to the association and does not speak up during any crisis. Even now, they have not taken any initiative to solve the problem, they said.