The poultry farmers in Satkhira have been counting massive losses since the start of nationwide shutdown as they have to sell broiler chicken at Tk 80 per kg, and egg at Tk 45 a dozen.
They sought government support soon for continuing the poultry business.
"Price of a dozen of eggs was Tk 45, and that of a kg broiler chicken Tk 80. Despite this drastic fall in prices there was about no sale. My daily loss was around Tk 5000 that left me heavily tensed."
Poultry farmer Fazlur Rahman Moral of Shibpur village under Tala upazila thus shared his business loss caused by the ccoronavirus shutdown.
Bangladesh government has announced general holidays or countrywide shutdown until April 11 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic that infected 70 people and killed eight in the country as of Saturday.
Fazlur told Jago News that there are around 42,000 egg laying chickens in his farm and these lay 3600-3700 eggs every day.
There was daily sale of Tk 24,000-25,000 in normal period but now it dropped to Tk 500, Fazlur said, adding that he incurs loss about Tk 5,000 as his daily expenses around Tk 20,000.
Retail traders about stopped buying chickens becuase of fewer buyers in the kitchen markets, poultry farm owner Fazlur also said.
Poultry businessman Ismail sale of chicken has fell significanly due to coronavirus restrictions imposed by the government. "Some six to seven men work at my farm, and despite loss I have to pay salaries of them," he added.
District livestock official Mohammad Shahidul Islam said there was no restrictions for farmers to transport and selling-buying chicken but buyer crisis.
The matter of the affected farmers has been discused in ministry several phases but no decision taken yet, he added.