Low production and surging demand have driven up broiler chicken prices across Bangladesh, providing a much-needed lifeline to farmers who have struggled with losses for most of the past year.
Industry sources note that demand typically spikes before Eid-ul-Fitr. While this seasonal trend is expected, a significant supply crunch—caused by widespread poultry diseases—has further pushed prices upward.
Abu Hanifa, a poultry farmer and feed seller in Shibpur, Narsingdi, reported that over 50% of farms in his area were hit by disease recently. "The mortality rate was abnormal, which slashed production and supply," he said.
According to Hanifa, farm-gate prices in Shibpur recently reached 180–198 Tk/kg. This is a sharp increase from February's price of 145 Tk/kg and December’s low of 120–130 Tk/kg. "If these prices hold for a few more months, farmers can finally recover the heavy losses sustained over the last year," Hanifa added.
The recovery remains uneven. Md. Jahitul Haque, who manages a large-scale operation of 23,000 chickens in Shibpur, noted that while the last month has been profitable, the preceding 10 months were disastrous for the majority. "Some are benefiting now, but others remain in debt because their flocks didn't survive the disease outbreaks," Haque explained.
However, for those with healthy stocks, the timing has been ideal. Jibana Begum, a female entrepreneur in Boylabo, shared that she turned an unexpected profit after selling 1,600 chickens in mid-March. Similarly, Md. Rabiullah, a teacher and veteran farmer with 20,000 birds, noted that while the business is volatile, the current market shift proves that those who can weather the losses eventually see a turnaround.
