Bangladesh: Poultry feed industry seeks corn export ban

Bangladesh’s poultry feed industry is seeking a ban on the export of corn, a much desired raw material in poultry feed. Poultry feed prices have gone up internationally in the past few months, and the industry is seeking the ban in a bid to stabilise domestic poultry bird and egg prices, Bangladesh’s Financial Express reports.

Feed Industry Association of Bangladesh (FIAB) President Ihtehsham B. Shahjahan said prices of poultry feeds swelled by nearly 80 to 100% in the last month.

If the government does not impose ban on the export of locally produced corn, the poultry feed production cost will rise furthe,r hampering the chicken and egg production, he told the FE.

Corn constitutes 55% of the poultry feed, millers said.

Since a major supplier like that of India has slowed down its corn export due to production shortfall, there is a possibility of further price hike of the poultry feed.

It has also been alleged that some local businessmen have been exporting corn to Nepal and other countries, violating government orders.

The government now allows corn export under the condition that businessmen get minimum price of US$325 per tonne.

There are rumours that corn is being smuggled out, to neighbouring India, cahing on the high rpices that prevail there.

The domestic price of has already gone up by nearly 40% over the last year.

Saidur Rahman Babu, General Secretary of the Breeder’s Association of Bangladesh said that 60% of poultry farms and 70% hatcheries & breeding farms were closed due to bird flu attack in 2007-2008 period.

“Many of the farmers have been trying to revive their production. But the fresh price hike of corn and other feeds in the local and international markets has hit the struggling poultry farmers hard,” he added.