Local poultry farmers at a seminar has sought government support for rescuing the sector from collapse.
Due to various mismanagements in the industry, the once-vibrant sector is now struggling hard for survival, they said.

They urged the government to introduce vaccine and other necessities like poultry insurance, bank loan with lower interest rates and tax exemption on poultry feed for removing the obstacles and smooth operation of the industry . 
The poultry stakeholders made the comments Wednesday at a seminar in city on 'Crises in Poultry sector: Immediate action'. 

Abdul Latif Biswas, minister of Fisheries and Livestock, was the chief guest at the programme. M A Sattar Mandol, member, Planning Commission, former Bangladesh Bank Governor Farash Uddin Ahmed, Moshiur Rahman, convener of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Coordination Committee and entrepreneurs from poultry sector, among others, were present in the seminar. 

On the entrepreneurs demand, Abdul Latif Biswas assured the farmers and said he already has taken some steps in this connection and others measures will be taken immediately.

He said Fisheries and Livestock Ministry already has taken decision in principle to introduce much-talked-about avian influenza vaccine with a view to eradicating the disease from the country.

"We have formed a committee with eight experts to give a report on the bird flu situation in the country," said the minister adding the committee has been given 72 hours (from last Monday) to submit the report to the ministry.

"At first we will use the avian influenza vaccine experimentally then it will be used widely", he added.

He also said he will hold discussions about bank loan, insurance and tax measures with the finance ministry before passing of the next budget (2012-13).

The ministry has strictly prohibited import of eggs from bird flu-affected countries so that the local firms remain safe from the disease, he said. 

Multinational companies are grabbing the industry gradually and this should be discouraged immediately, said Mousiur Rahman while presenting the keynote paper.

Farash Uddin Ahmed said poultry and crops insurance is very expensive and for this reason the insurance companies are not interest in it.

Therefore, the government should make special arrangement for the industry in this connection, he added.
He also suggested that the poultry farmers be provided with loans from the micro credit organisations at low interest.

The poultry entrepreneurs also sought duty waiver on import of poultry feeds. 

They said though the government has given tax holiday to the sector the import of poultry feed has been brought under 5.0 per cent duty.

The Financial Express/Bangladesh/ 7th June 2012