The Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA) has cancelled its plan to halt production of broiler chickens and eggs from January 1, 2025, as the government has promised to address their demands within the next two months.

The association shared this information today through a press release, issued four days after presenting a 10-point demand and threatening to stop poultry production if their demands are not properly met.

BPA President Sumon Howlader said they backtracked from its earlier decision as the Department of Livestock Services, the Department of Agricultural Marketing and the people concerned assured the association of meeting the demands in two separate discussions held in Dhaka on December 17-18.

The association had earlier placed the demands for the sake of the interest of the marginal farmers and the people of the country, he said.

It had urged the government to curb the influence of alleged corporate syndicates, which are increasingly monopolising and destabilising the domestic poultry market.

Competition among the small farms helps control prices and ensure smooth supply in the market whereas the corporate entities end up controlling all aspects of the business, according to the BPA.

The small-scale farms cannot compete with the rates offered by the big companies, it said.

To bring a balance in the market, the government should limit corporate houses to producing feed and day-old chicks while the production of eggs and broiler chickens should be left to the small farmers, they added.

The government should also establish a mechanism to regulate the prices of feed and chicks, as corporate entities have been 'unreasonably' increasing rates, driving up production costs for small farms, the BPA said.

Other demands of the association include ensuring loans on easy terms, providing support after calamities, creating separate markets for small farms, introducing policies to regulate corporate entities, and ending contractual farming.