During the recent floods, thousands of poultry farms were submerged, and hundreds of thousands of chickens died in the Chattogram division, particularly in the Feni, Noakhali, Cumilla, and Lakshmipur districts.
This has led to a decline in egg production and a reduced supply of meat, resulting in price hikes in the local market.
The Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA) reported that a total of 7.5 million chickens died in four districts of the Chattogram division during the floods. Of this, 4 million were broilers, 3 million sonali (local) chickens, and 5,00,000 were layer chickens.
Department of Livestock Services (DLS) in Chattogram stated that a total of 2.8-2.9 million chickens died across eight districts, excluding the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Meanwhile, egg production in these four districts declined to 2 million per day, which previously was 4 million per day. Other districts' egg production also declined to 1.5-2 million per day.
BPA leaders stated that the average production cost is Tk 200 per broiler, Tk 800 per layer, and Tk 240 per Sonali chicken, resulting in a total loss of Tk 192 crore solely in poultry. Additionally, losses from eggs, grass, straw, feed, food grains, and infrastructure amount to over Tk 567 crore.
Zakir Hossain, a flood- affected poultry farmer from Noakhali, said, "I had about 60,000 layer chickens across my 30 farms where egg production was around 50,000 per day. Due to the floods, the number of eggs produced has dropped to 25,000 per day.
“Due to the floodwater, I couldn't feed the chickens for three days, and the eggs have rotted. The total loss, including chickens and fish, is around Tk one crore.”
Like Zakir, many other farmers have been affected by the floods in Chattogram division. Zahid Hossain, another flood-victim of Chattogram’s Mirsarai, said, "I had 80,000 broilers and layer chickens across 18 farms in Mirsarai and Feni’s Chhagalnaiya upazilas.
“However, due to the floods, nearly 50,000 chickens have died in four farms in Mirsarai and seven farms in Chhagalnaiya. Although I had invested nearly Tk one crore in these farms, my losses have exceeded Tk 50 lakh."
Poultry association leaders said that the average demand for eggs in Bangladesh is between 40-45 million pieces per day, while the demand for meat is 5,200 tonnes per day. Of which, the country’s egg production is around 40 million pieces per day. OF the meat supply, broilers account for 3,200 tonnes per day, and Sonali and layer chickens contribute around 1,700 tonnes.
They further said that at present, nearly five per cent decline in egg production due to a daily decrease of approximately 2.2 million eggs. Additionally, the death of 7.5 million chickens has led to an over eight per cent decrease in meat supply.
In four affected districts, floods have completely damaged 4,000 farms and partially damaged 2,000 others, resulting in losses ranging from Tk 10 lakh to Tk 2 crore.
Dr AKM Humayun Kabir, Director of the Livestock Department in Chattogram, told The Business Post, “I am uncertain about the extent of poultry losses reported by farmers.”
However, he acknowledged that the deaths of poultry and livestock in these districts would impact egg and meat production. He also mentioned that the department has informed the ministry to take necessary measures for the farmers.
BPA President Md Suman Howlader told The Business Post, “Livestock Department's data is inaccurate. The department focuses on corporate groups and does not conduct proper field-level assessments. If you go to the field level, you will understand that there is a lump in their statistics.”
According to the latest data from the Chattogram DLS on August 29, 47.91 million chickens in the 11 districts of Chattogram division were affected by the floods, and over 2.8 million chickens died. The report estimates a total loss of over Tk 450.27 crore in the livestock sector, including cattle, poultry, goats, as well as feed, eggs, and infrastructure.
