The price of poultry feed remains high in Bangladesh despite its fall in global markets, said Suman Hawlader, president of the Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA).

He informed that poultry feed prices in the international market are currently at a four-year low.

"But there has been no impact on the local market," he said while blaming the government for not taking any initiative to this end.

But on the other hand, it sparks nationwide discussions and swift government intervention when there is a rise in chicken or egg prices, he added while pointing to the government's inconsistent policies on state intervention.

Hawlader made these comments during a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the Segunbagicha area of Dhaka yesterday.

According to data of the World Bank, soybean meal cost about $422 per tonne in October last year while the price dropped to $385 in November and then $376 in December.

Soybean meal is used in food and animal feed, principally as a protein supplement, but also as a source of consumable energy.

The BPA chief said although the price of soybean meal recently decreased significantly in the international market, it has declined by just Tk 1 to Tk 1.5 per kilogramme (kg) locally.

Due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the price of feed per kg increased by about Tk 30 in the last two years. The price has not increased further in the last one year, he added.

Currently, the price of 1 kg of poultry feed is Tk 70 to Tk 72 while that of layer chicken feed is Tk 58 to Tk 60.

The country's marginal farmers contribute around 80 percent of the chicken and eggs produced annually while the rest is supplied by big corporate entities.

"But the production cost is higher for small-scale growers," Hawlader said.

Marginal farmers spend Tk 10.5 to Tk 11 to produce to each egg while it costs Tk 155 to Tk 170 per kg to raise broiler chicken. On the other hand, big producers spend Tk 8 to Tk 9 for producing a single egg and Tk 130 to Tk 140 on each kg of broiler chicken.

So, the corporate houses get the advantage for bulk production whereas marginal farmers are falling behind and eventually leaving the business, he added.

The BPA president urged the government to take effective measures to protect small farmers and bar corporate groups from monopolising the market.

The BPA plans to start selling eggs, frozen chicken and other agricultural items at fair prices from January 12 this year to ensure affordable poultry products during the upcoming month of Ramadan.

The association will first start the initiative at 20 locations of Dhaka city before gradually expanding it to 100 locations in phases, Howlader said.