|
May
24, 2000
Narsingdi,
May 23 (UNB) – Over 100 poultry farms in Bhairab upazila have been
closed for various reasons, including financial constraint, throwing
several hundred people out of job.
Encouraged
by government campaign, many small entrepreneurs set up some 150
poultry firms in different parts of the country, employing nearly
2,000 rural people.
“Once
we had a good business, we used to sell chickens at Tk 60-70 per kg.
Now those happy days have gone,” said a frustrated poultry farm
owner looking for a way out.
He
said they could not avail of government facilities like farm credit
due to procedural complexities and corruption by a section of bank
officials.
Their
problems also include lack of boilers, selling centres and medical
facilities to control diseases.
Another
problem that hit them hardest on various occasions is fodder crisis
and for this they blamed a section of dishonest traders.
Despite
all odds, there are some poultry-farm owners in the district who are
doing a brisk business. Helal Uddin in Jagannathpur village in
pourasava area is among them.
An
intelligent young man, Helal said he has already expanded his farm by
including fish farming it and now his yearly profit stands at Tk two
lakh.
“In
Bangladesh, it’s the farm sector that can give you a lot,” he
said.
|
