Poultry Farmers Struggle Amid Downturn

The poultry farmers in Chitwan are facing severe hardships while most of the small business holders in this field have quitted this business. The investors are having difficulties repaying their loan to the banks and financial institutions due to the current economic crisis.

The number of the poultry farmers has sharply decreased, said Chairman of Industry Association Chitwan Trilochan Kandel. "The number of layer poultry farms has decreased to less than 4,000 from 8,000. Several poultry businesspersons have been displaced and the existing ones are struggling to thrive," he added.

Binod Pokharel, who has invested billions in this business, said he is working for the marketing of eggs across the country to promote the collective interests of this business community.

Pokharel is rearing as high as 400,000 layer chicks in his Daunne Corporate at Binayi Triveni in Nawalparasi district.

Pokharel shared that the poultry farmers are bearing losses for years as the income from eggs is limited for the producers.

The business persons have argued that poultry farmers have suffered due to the government's unfriendly policies towards this business, which has created some 500,000 job opportunities.

Likewise, the number of hatcheries has decreased to 348 from 120 and the existing ones have also run with limited capacity. "This business could crash at any time if the government didn't take it into consideration," Vice-Chairman of Nepal Poultry Federation Tikaram Pokharel said.

It is said that the poultry business in the country has drawn more than Rs 200 billion in investment. The government should do something to save this business, Federation's Chairman Gun Chandra Bista said.