Policy support may lower egg, meat prices

Leaders of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) on Saturday said eggs and meat can be provided at lower prices if the government extends policy support.

The apex trade body leaders said entrepreneurs demand policy support for livestock, poultry, and fish farmers like the agriculture sector.

The demand came in the first meeting of the FBCCI Standing Committee on Livestock, Poultry and Fisheries held at the federation building in Dhaka.

The business leaders said poultry, cattle farms, fish and shrimp farms have to pay electricity bills at commercial rates, pushing up production and operating costs.

With policy support equal to the agricultural sector, it will be possible to meet protein needs at affordable prices, they pointed out.

Speaking as the chief guest, FBCCI President Md Jashim Uddin said the government should provide utilities at a special rate for livestock farms.

“To become a developed country by 2041, Bangladesh needs to export products worth $300 billion, which may be tough to achieve solely from readymade garment. Therefore, fish, shrimp, and meat should be included in the export basket. Here the government can extend policy support,” Jasim added.

The FBCCI president also said there has recently been instability in the egg market due to a few unscrupulous traders. He urged to identify the dishonest traders to protect the image of the community. Among others, Senior Vice President of FBCCI Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu, Directors Mohammad Anwar Sadat Sarker, MGR Nasir Majumder, Syed Moazzam Hossain, Bijoy Kumar Kejriwal, Abu Motaleb, Mohammad Iqbal Shahriar, Mohammed Bazlur Rahman, Tabarakul Tosaddek Hossain khan Tito, Md. Naser, Abu Hossain Bhuiyan (Ranu), Secretary General Mohammad Mafuzul Hoque, Co-Chairmen of the Standing Committee Imran Hussain, Md Mahmudul Alam, and members were present in the meeting.