Sun Oct 06 23:12:22 UTC 2024: ## Government Stands Firm Against Egg Imports, Citing Poultry Industry Protection

**Dhaka, Bangladesh** – The Bangladesh government has firmly rejected proposals to import eggs, citing concerns for the local poultry industry’s growth and potential risks of disease outbreaks. This decision was made at a recent meeting with stakeholders, with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL) expressing fears that imports would severely impact domestic farmers, who are already struggling with high feed costs.

The MoFL stated that allowing imports could lead to financial losses for local farmers and harm the overall poultry sector, which currently meets domestic demand. Concerns were also raised about the possibility of introducing trans-boundary animal diseases such as avian flu and Newcastle disease.

The government’s decision follows a period of soaring egg prices, exceeding the maximum retail price (MRP) set by the government. While the MRP for eggs is Tk11.87 apiece, consumers are currently paying Tk15 for each egg. This price hike has been attributed to rising feed and day-old chick costs, leaving small farmers struggling to make a profit.

While some businesses have pushed for imports to stabilize prices, the government and local poultry farmers maintain that imports are not the solution. The Bangladesh Poultry Association (BPA) argues that the price increase is artificially inflated by corporate houses controlling the market, and that the government should instead focus on regulating the prices of feed and day-old chicks to bring down egg prices.

The BPA has also urged the government to ensure fair prices for eggs produced by small farmers, who currently sell at a loss due to unfair market dynamics.

The government remains committed to addressing the high egg prices, but for now, it seems imports are off the table.

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