present study is an attempt to examine the present situation of Bangladesh poultry industry and its future potential.In Bangladesh commercial poultry production has been growing rapidly since the early 1990 by using improved genetics, manufactured feeds and management. This improvement is done mainly in the private sector as a device for additional source of income and employment opportunities particularly in rural area. This dramatic growth of poultry farms throughout the country without judging feasibility of the farm in the area. This process has been influenced by the programmers of different NGOs and the public sector. The poultry sector of the country is classified neither as an agricultural sector nor an industrial sector, receives far less support than its potential contribution might indicate.
Based on this poultry industry a number of industries are developed both in inputs sector and outputs sector along with a number of service providing organizations where at least 60 lakh people are involved. The poultry industry was hit by bird flu in 2007 and 2009. The number of firms reduced to 55,000 in 2013 from 1,15,000 in 2007. Another source reported that there are about 65,902 poultry farms up to February 1013 in the country (BER,2013p.104). In spite of decrease in number of poultry farms, it is reported by Bangladesh Poultry Association that that the country achieved self sufficiency in production of chicken meat and eggs. So the problem is excess supply of chicken meat and egg in the market.. The major challenges to poultry sector are limited access to credit, competition from import and outbreak of diseases like Avian Influenza. In addition there are other problems which hinder the proper development of poultry industry. Production of quality and safe product in compliance with international standard of hygiene, sanitation and phytosanitary is an important issue. For sustainable development of poultry sector some specific recommendations (establishment of effective data bank, formation of poultry farmers’ organization etc) are made for consideration by the concerned stakeholders of this industry.
