Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science 51 (1): 1-11, 2022 https://doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v51i1.

58879

Sonali chicken farming in southern part of Bangladesh


S Howlader, MM Hasan, SI Resmi, MW Islam, M Rahman and ST Ahmed

Department of Agribusiness, Atish Dipankar University of Science & Technology, Uttara, Dhaka, Bangladesh

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Article history: The study was conducted to identify the socio-economic status and problems
faced by the Sonali farmers at Wazirpur Upazila in Barishal District. A total of
Received: 26 November 2021
90 respondents from 9 unions were selected randomly for primary data
Revised: 08 March 2022
collection. The farmers and their farming were evaluated through the
Accepted: 09 March 2022
analysis of data collected in a pre-structured questionnaire. This study
Published: 31 March 2022
revealed that a maximum portion of the farmers were middle-aged (52.2%),
male (92.2%), and had a secondary level of education (54.4%). Most
Keywords:
farmers had medium-sized farm (38.9%) and invested their own capital in
Sonali farming, socio-
farming (54.9%). Although major farmers had low experience in Sonali
economic condition, farm
chicken farming, they had high management skills (63.9%). In terms of
management, Barishal
occupation, the highest percentage of farmers (38.9%) had a conjugated
occupation of poultry and crop. Most of the farmers had their own tube-well
Correspondence: (74.7%) and use sanitary latrine (71.1%). Nevertheless, only 17% of the
Sonia Tabasum Ahmed : farmers had good health condition. About 49% of the farmers had only one
[email protected]
chicken house, and 87.8% followed the floor system for rearing Sonali
ISSN: 0003-3588 chicken. Surprisingly, all the farms followed an all-in-all-out marketing
system for Sonali chicken. Most of the farmers (96.7%) vaccinated their
poultry birds and added coccidiostat (73.3%) and vitamin mineral premix
(94.4%) to the feed. A major portion of the farmers identified the irregular
fluctuation in the market price of feeds (95.6%) and day-old chicks (93.3%)
as severe problem, followed by high price of feed but low price of meat
(87.8%). A disorganized marketing channel was the next major problem
faced by the poultry farmers (83.3%). Taken together, the Sonali farmers of
Barishal were middle-aged; poorly educated, and invested their own capital
for farming, and they faced a variety of challenges during farming and
marketing their chickens. To enhance Sonali farmers’ socio-economic
conditions and alleviate their problems, the government should take
appropriate steps to provide finance and farm-based training, including
modern animal husbandry practices.

Copyright © 2022 by authors and Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science. This work is licensed under the
Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC By 4.0).

Introduction
The poultry industry of Bangladesh has proved to 15% on average. According to the Bangladesh
be an attractive economic movement with a Poultry Industries Central Committee (BPICC), the
contribution of about 1.5-1.6% to Gross Domestic cumulative investment in the poultry sector of
Products (GDP) and an annual growth rate of 12- Bangladesh is estimated to be around BDT 3500

How to Cite
S Howlader, MM Hasan, SI Resmi, MW Islam, M Rahman and ST Ahmed (2022). Sonali Chicken Farming in Southern
Part of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Animal Science 51 (1): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v51i1.
58879.
 Howlader et al. (2022), Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 51 (1): 1-11

million, with over 6 million people employed 1996 and 2000, Bangladesh's Department of
(Saleque and Ansarey, 2020). It is assumed that by Livestock Services (DLS) introduced Sonali
2021, this industry will create employment crossbred chicken in the northern areas of the
opportunity for about 10 million people and country through various projects, creating jobs for
unemployed young men and women make up the millions of rural women (FAO, 2015). Sonali rearing
majority of them (Saleque and Ansarey, 2020). is rapidly becoming popular because of its better
Aside from producing jobs, the poultry industry production records (average weight; adult male 2-
boosted Bangladesh's food security and increased 2.5 kg and adult female 1.5-2 kg with feed
the supply of high-quality protein in people's diets. conversion ratio of 4.33), higher disease resistance,
With rising incomes, urbanization, and dietary lowest mortality and highest profit rate per hen
changes, the demand for meat, eggs, and (Rahman et al., 1997; Huque et al., 1999). They
associated items has exploded. Meat is an essential are also very much suited to the semi-intensive
component of our daily diet, and chickens’ meat is rearing system in rural areas. Traders can sell
now the cheapest form of animal protein in Sonali at higher price than broiler. Sonali chicken
Bangladesh, despite religious, economic, social, and consumption climbed by 45 percent in July 2019
demographic differences (Al-Nasser et al., 2007; compared to 20 percent in July 2018. Commercial
Simon, 2009). According to Begum et al. (2011), Sonali farming provides employment opportunities
poultry meat accounts for 37% of overall meat for unemployed family members, improve socio-
output and roughly 22-27% of total animal protein economic conditions (of about 76% of Sonali
supply in Bangladesh (Prabakaran, 2003). beneficiary has been improved) and increases
women employment among rural people of
Based on the preceding discussion, it can be said
Bangladesh. If we can boost Sonali production, it
that, Bangladesh’s poultry industry is one of the
will be able to contribute more to the country's
key job generators, which also improves the food
total meat production. The poultry producers of
security, boosts the supply of high-quality protein,
Barishal district have recently noticed a trend of
contributes to the country's economic development,
Sonali chicken farming. Therefore, the purpose of
and reduces poverty in Bangladesh's rural and
this study was to identify the socio-economic status
urban areas. Native chickens, scavenge on cereal
of the Sonali chicken farmers and the major
by-products and wastes of rural areas (Rao, 1990)
problems they experience while conducting poultry
are still playing a noteworthy role on quantitative
business in the Barishal district of Bangladesh.
production of chicken eggs and meat in the
developing countries. Because of special smell,
taste and texture, the meat of non-descript native-
Materials and Methods
colored chickens are very popular among all classes Study area
of consumers of Bangladesh (Barua and Howlider,
1990). Indigenous chicken and duck of free range The survey was conducted in 9 unions of Wazirpur
provide 75.06% eggs and 86.05% meat (Huque et Upazila of Barishal district. Wazirpur Upazila is
al., 1999), although their flock size (below 20) and located in between 22°43' and 22°56' north
performance (up to 1.50 kg meat and 35-40 eggs latitudes and in between 90°01' and 90°18' east
annually) are limited (Das et al., 2008). As a result, longitudes. This Upazila was considered
the market price of indigenous chicken meat is 2-3 representative in terms of availability of various
times that of commercial chicken. Furthermore, types of birds including Sonali chicken.
because to food safety concerns, consumers'
attitudes regarding commercial broiler meat are Sample selection procedure
changing day by day. Before selecting the survey samples, a list of
Sonali chicken, the crossbred of Rhode Island Red unions and villages under Wazirpur Upazila was
(RIR) male and Fayoumi female was developed in prepared in consultation with government officials,
1986, has similar phenotypic appearance and taste the local offices of non-governmental organizations
to that of local non-descript chickens. Between (NGOs) and poultry dealers/agents. Farms were

2
 Sonali chicken farming in Barishal

chosen at random from a sample frame developed Data processing and analysis
through discussions with various stakeholders. All data obtained in the field was input into
To avoid survey inaccuracies, data and information computers using Microsoft Excel. The qualitative
from a specific locality were collected at the same data were transferred into quantitative data by
time. For primary data collection, a total of 90 appropriate scoring technique. For analyzing the
respondents from 9 unions (10 per union) were data, a combination of descriptive statistics (sums,
chosen at random. The survey included intensive averages, percentages, etc.), mathematical
system of Sonali chicken production. techniques and SPSS (version 23) were used to
Preparation of survey instruments obtain meaningful results.

Based on the information needed to meet the study Results

objectives, a predesigned structured interview
Socio-economic condition of the Sonali farm
schedule for the sample survey was created. Farm
owners
management records/information and personal
interviews were used for retrospective analysis. The Age, gender and educational level
interview schedule included various portions
The socio-economic condition of the Sonali farmers
devoted to the specific features needed to achieve
at Wazirpur Upazila of Barishal district is displayed
the study's goals. Before establishing the final
in Table 1. According to our findings, the maximum
schedule, a draft was created. After pre-testing the
number of Sonali farmers was within the middle
draft schedule with a few farmers in the research
age (31 to 50 years) group (52.2%), followed by
area, it was reassembled and subsequently revised.
young (18-30 years, 20.7%) and old age group
Sources of data and collecting primary data
(above 50 years, 8.1%). When it comes to gender
Primary and secondary data were utilized in the issue 92.2% male had involved in Sonali chicken
investigation. The 90 farmers who provided both farming, compared to only 7.8% of female. Most of
qualitative and quantitative data were the main the farmers have secondary (6-10 grade) level of
source of primary data. To collect primary data, we education (54.4) followed by higher secondary (11-
follow the procedure described by Hossain et al. 12 grade, 23.3%), primary (1-5 grade, 18.9%) and
(2017). Before actual interview an introductory visit higher study (>12 grade, 3.3%).
with the respondents was made to the study area
Farm size and investment source
to provide brief information regarding the aims,
nature and study's objective. Questions were asked In relation to farm size Sonali farmers were
systemically and explained whenever it was felt categorized into landless (0.02 ha), marginal (0.02
necessary. The respondents were interviewed at to 0.20 ha), small (0.21 to 1.0 ha) and large (3.0
their own house so they could give accurate ha) (Hannan et al., 2020). In the present study,
information without any wavering and sound mind. majority of poultry farmers belonged to medium
Excellent cooperation was received from all land size category (38.9%) followed by small
respondents when the data was collected and (30.0%), marginal (17.8%), landless (11.1%) and
therefore, no serious problem was faced by the large (2.2%) categories. The sources of investment
researchers. Data were collected by the researchers for the farmers were highly varied (Table 1). Most
during January to March, 2021. The Department of of the farmer (54.9%) invests their own money in
Livestock Services, various poultry associations, farming, 18% takes bank loan, 5.4% manages
and other government and non-government investment from money lender in terms of interest,
organizations provided secondary data and and remaining 2.7% takes loan from money lender
information. but without interest.

3
 Howlader et al. (2022), Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 51 (1): 1-11

Table 1. Socio-economic conditions of the Sonali farmers in the experimental area (n=90)

Parameter Category Respondents Percentage

Age Young age (18-30) 23 20.7

Middle age (31-50) 58 52.2
Old (>50) 9 8.1
Gender Male 83 92.2
Female 7 7.8
Education level of farm owner Illiterate 0 0
Primary (1-5) 16 18.9
Secondary (6-10) 49 54.4
Higher secondary (11-12) 21 23.3
Higher study (>12) 3 3.3
Farm size (hectare) Landless (>2) 10 11.1
Marginal (2-20) 16 17.8
Small (21-100) 27 30.0
Medium (101-300) 35 38.9
Large (>300) 2 2.2
Investment source Own 61 54.9
Bank loan 20 18.0
With interest from money lender 6 5.4
Without interest from money lender 6 2.7
Source of drinking water Own tube-well 83 74.7
Shared-in tube-well 7 6.3
Shared-in deep tube-well 0 0
Condition of latrines Non-sanitary 0 0
Semi-sanitary 11 9.9
sanitary 79 71.1
Health status Good 19 17.1
Moderate 61 54.9
Poor 10 9.0

Health status of poultry farmers Based on the farming experience, poultry farmers
There was remarkable difference in the farmers’ were categorized into four group: no (0 year, no
drinking water sources and latrine conditions (Table experience), low (1-5 years), medium (6-15 years),
1). Most of the farmer had their own tube-well high (16-30 years) and very high (>30years).
(74.7%) and used sanitary latrine (71.1%). The Table 2 represented that, the majority of the
sharing of tube well (6.3%) is only during certain farmers (25.6%) in Wazirpur Upazila had low
dry months. Around 17% of farmers reported good experience (1-5 years) in Sonali chicken farming.
health, while 54.9% and 9% reported moderate Additionally, about 23.3% farmers had no
experience in chicken farming. About 18.9%
and poor health, respectively.
farmers had medium (6-15 years), 16.7% had high
Farming experience, management skill, (16-30 years) and 15.6% had very high
occupation and annual income (>30years) experience in poultry farming.

4
 Sonali chicken farming in Barishal

Table 2. Farming experience, poultry farm management skill, occupation and annual income of the farmers
in the experimental area (n=90)

Parameter Category Respondents Percentage

Farming experience (year) No experience (0) 21 23.3
Low (1-5) 23 25.6
Medium (6-15) 17 18.9
High (16-30) 15 16.7
Very High (>30) 14 15.6
Poultry farm management skill High 71 63.9
Medium 15 13.5
Low 4 3.6
Occupation Poultry 18 20.0
Poultry and crop 35 38.9
Poultry and service 9 10.0
Poultry and business 8 8.9
Poultry and fish 16 17.8
Poultry, crop and fish 4 4.4
Annual income (‘000 BDT) Low (up to 40) 20 22.2
Medium (41-80) 46 51.1
High (>80) 24 26.7
Income from Sonali production (‘000 Low (up to 10) 36 40
BDT) Medium (11-20) 41 45.6
High (>20) 13 11.7

Table 3: Correlation between farming experiment and poultry farm management skill

Farming Experience Poultry Firm Management Skill

Farming Experience 1 0.708**

Poultry Firm Management Skill 0.708** 1

**Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed).

About 63.9% of the farmers had high poultry farm followed by high (26.7%) and low-income group
management skill. There was a positive correlation (22.2%).
between farming experience and poultry farm Different Management practices
management skill (Table 3). In terms of
Different management practices followed by the
occupation, the major farmers (38.9%) had a
Sonali chicken farmers of Barishal district are
conjugated occupation of poultry and crop followed
shown in Table 4. About 49% of the farmers have
by exclusive poultry farming (20.0%), poultry and
only one chicken house, 38.9% has two houses and
fish (17.8%), poultry and business (8.9%), poultry
12.2% has more than two chicken houses. Most of
and service (10.0%), and poultry, agriculture and
the farm follow floor rearing system (87.8%) for
fish (4.4%). Annual income from poultry farm
rearing Sonali chicken, followed by cage rearing
showed that the maximum percentage of farmers
(6.7%) and net rearing (5.6%). Surprisingly, all
belonged to medium income group (51.1%),

5
 Howlader et al. (2022), Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 51 (1): 1-11

Table 4. Different management practices followed by Sonali chicken farmers (n=90)

Parameters Category Respondents Percentage

1 44 48.9
Number of chicken house/farm
2 35 38.9
>2 11 12.2
Floor-rearing 79 87.8
Rearing method (intensive)
Net-rearing 5 5.6
Cage rearing 6 6.7
Marketing system All-in-all-out 90 100
Not al –in-all out 0 0
All-in-all-out mode One chicken house 78 86.7
The whole chicken farm 12 13.3
Vaccination Regular 87 96.7
Irregular 3 3.3
Yes 66 73.3
Coccidiostat feeding
No 24 26.7
Yes 63 70.0
Application of antibiotics
No 27 30.0
Yes 85 94.4
Vitamin mineral premix feeding
No 5 5.6

Table 5. Problems faced by Sonali chicken farmers (n=90)

Parameters Respondents Percentage

Inadequate availability of quality feed 72 80.0

Inadequate availability of quality chick 69 76.7
Lack of vaccine 65 72.2
Natural disaster 55 61.1
Inadequate availability of technical advisor 67 74.4
Corrupt middleman 75 83.3
Irregular fluctuation of market price of day-old chicks 84 93.3
irregular fluctuation of market price of feed 86 95.6
High price of feed but low price of meat 79 87.8
Disease out-break 65 72.2

the farms follow all-in-al-out marketing system for On an average 73.3% of the Sonali farmers
Sonali chicken. About 86.7% farmers depleted one provided coccidiostat regularly while 70% farmers
chicken house at a time, while 13.3% farmers provided antibiotics. Vitamin mineral premix was
depleted the whole chicken farm at a time. Most of added to feed by 94.4% farmers. Both readymade
the farmers (96.7%) vaccinated their poultry birds. and hand mixed feeds were provided to the birds.

6
 Sonali chicken farming in Barishal

According to my information, no research report

The nutrients content of the hand mixed feed was
has discussed the age and gender as socio-
almost similar to the readymade feed. The major
economic characteristics of Sonali chicken farmers.
components of layer ration were maize, rice polish,
However some reports have been found that
soybean meal, concentrate protein, limestone,
discussed the age and gender to converse the
layer premix, di-calcium phosphate, common salt
socio-economic condition of poultry farmers in
and some other additives. The average crude
Bangladesh. In our research, it was found that
protein content (%) and energy content (ME,
maximum percentage of Sonali farmers was
Kcal/kg) values were 17.55±0.07 and
middle-aged male. This tendency was similar to the
2783.33±7.97, respectively.
findings of Eva (2013) and Hannan et al. (2020).
Problem faced by Sonali chicken farmers Hannan et al. (2020) conducted an experiment to
observe the socio-economic conditions of poultry
The farmers of the study area confronted many
farmers in the south-western region of Bangladesh
different problems at different extent. Data
and found the highest number of farmers within the
presented in Table 5 represented ten major
middle-aged (31 to 40 years, 45.6%) male
problems that the Sonali chicken farmers were
(86.8%) group. Eva (2013) also reported that the
pointed out during the study period. Major portion
majority of the poultry farmers (43.3%) belonged
of the farmers identified the irregular fluctuation of
to middle (41 to 50 years) age group.
market price of feeds (95.6%) and day-old chicks
(93.3%) as highly severe problem tackled by the About 54.4% of Sonali farmers of Wazirpur Upazila
Sonali chicken farmers followed by high price of had secondary (6-10 grades) level of education
feed but low price of meat (87.8%). Corrupt followed by higher secondary, primary and higher
middleman was the next foremost problem faced study. In consistent with our study, Islam et al.
by 83.3% poultry farmers. About 80% of the (2013) also reported the majority of respondents
farmers acknowledged inadequate availability of has less than a SSC level of education (30.5%)
quality feed as one of the most serious issues in followed by HSC (28.8%). We did not find any
chicken farming, while inadequate availability of illiterate farmers in our study. In contrast to our
quality chick, inadequate availability of technical findings, Hossen et al. (2012) reported 19.33% no-
advisor, lack of vaccine, disease outbreak and educated Sonali farmers in Joypurhat district. The
natural disaster have been recognized by result of Kumar and Manotosh (1994) was also in
76.7%,74.4%, 72.2%, 72.2% and 61.1% farmers, shape with findings of Hossen et al. (2012).
respectively. Hannan et al. (2020) reported maximum
percentage of farmers belonged to HSC level of
Discussion
education (31.8%) followed by SSC (24.2%), below
Socio-economic conditions of the Sonali farm SSC (22%), Bachelor (13.4%) and Masters (8.6%).
owners In the commercial poultry business, education has
a good impact on productivity and should be used
Farmers' access to agricultural loans, adoption of
to increase performance in both the domestic and
farming practices, and farm profit have all been
worldwide markets (Larbi-Apau and Sarpong,
influenced by their socioeconomic circumstances
2010).
(Nouman et al., 2013). Age, gender, education
level, farm size and investment source, farming In the present study, maximum percentage of
experience, poultry farm management skill, poultry farmers belonged to medium farm size
occupation, annual income, income from broiler category (38.9%) followed by small (30.0%),
production, health status, marketing system were marginal (17.8%), landless (11.1%) and large
used to assess the socio-economic status of the (2.2%) categories. Our results are in consistent
Sonali chicken farmers. Every criterion was again with the findings of Hannan et al. (2020). Rahman
divided into different categories. et al. (1997a) conducted a socio-economic study of

7
 Howlader et al. (2022), Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 51 (1): 1-11

livestock farmers and found the similar findings understanding of poultry feeding, breeding,
regarding land size of the farmers. Whereas, Alam housing, disease prevention and control, while 17%
et al. (2014) and Rahman et al. (2002) reported had insufficient knowledge. These inconsistencies in
highest number of poultry farmers belonged to results regarding farming experience may be due to
large farm size followed by medium, small, regional effects. The poultry farm management skill
marginal and landless. Islam et al. (2010) reported was categorized into high, medium and low. Even
that all of the farmers involved in broiler farming though the average farming experience was about
were in small farm size categories (Having 6-49 20%, the management skill of 63.9% farmers was
decimal land). high. This may be due educated people are
engaged themselves in poultry farming. Table 3
Most of the farmers (54.9%) invests their own
depicts that farming experience has positive
money in farming. Our results are similar with the
correlation with poultry farm management skill
findings of Alam et al. (2014) and Rahman et al.
because when a respondent have enough farming
(2002) who also reported that majority of the
experience, poultry farm management skills is also
poultry farmers invest their own money for
increased.
farming, followed by bank loan, money lending with
interest and money lending without interest. Considering the occupation of the respondents,
maximum percentage of farmers had a conjugated
Sanitation and hygiene along with safe water
occupation of poultry and crop (38.9%) followed by
supply are crucial for improving the socio-economic
exclusive poultry farming (20.0%). Our results are
condition of peoples’ life. In our study we found
partially consistent with the finding of Islam et al.
that most of the farmer had own tube-well (74.7%)
(2013) who reported that major farmers involved in
and most of them use sanitary latrine (71.1%). Our
poultry and agriculture (43.3%) followed by poultry
results are fully consistent with findings of Alam et
farming (16.7%). In contrast to our findings, Alam
al. (2014). On the contrary, Ahmed et al. (2009)
et al. (2014) reported that, the main occupation of
showed higher percentage of farmer using semi-
55% farmers in Gazipur district was exclusively
sanitary latrine. In terms of health status our study
poultry farming and the remaining 45% was
revealed that, about 55% of the farmers had
involved in subsidiary occupation. Ahmed et al.
moderate health condition followed by 17% had
(2009) showed that, farming is the primary source
good health which is in consistent with the findings
of income for 35% of broiler farmers. The region
of Alam et al. (2014) who reported 50% farmers
may have an effect on occupation, as Gazipur is
had moderate health condition and 20% had good
considered as the poultry zone of Bangladesh.
health condition.
Major percentages of the farmers categorized as
Farming experience, management skill, medium income group and earn about BDT 11 to
occupation and annual income 20 thousand annually from their poultry farm. In
consistent with our results, Hannan et al. (2020)
About 25.6% of the farmers in Wazirpur Upazila
also reported that the majority of farmers were in
had low experience (1-5 years) in Sonali chicken
the middle income group (43.6 %).
farming. Furthermore, about 23.3% farmers had no
experience in chicken farming. Contrary to our Different management practices
results, in a baseline survey Shahjahan and
To maximize productivity with the least amount of
Bhuiyan (2016) found that, major portion of the
investment, sound and scientific management
poultry farmers of Mymensingh district were highly
procedures are critical. We found that 87.8%
experienced (16-30 years). According to a study by
farmers followed floor rearing system for rearing
Hai et al. (2008), 30% of farmers in Bangladesh's
Sonali chicken which is in consistent with the
Fulbaria sub-district possessed adequate health and
findings of Rahman et al. (2002). Most of the
nutrition knowledge. Yasmin et al. (1989) showed
farmers in the experimental area vaccinated their
that just 13% of poultry farmers had adequate
poultry birds (96.7%), provided coccidiostat

8
 Sonali chicken farming in Barishal

(73.3%) and antibiotics (70% farmers) and added advisor. Pruthi and Grewal (1992) identified
vitamin mineral premix (94.4%) with Sonali inadequate training (88%), sub-standard broiler
chicken diets. As a preventative strategy, vaccines chicks from suppliers (66%), poor quality feed
were given against disease incidence, while the supply (78%), lack of expert advice (88%) as
remaining 3.3% of farmers irregularly vaccinated major problems of poultry enterprise.
their chickens to reduce production costs. Eva
Conclusion
(2013) and Islam et al. (2013) also found that
maximum farmers practiced vaccination program The purpose of this study was to determine the
and provided coccidiostat and vitamin mineral socio-economic position and problems faced by the
premix to the birds which are also in agreement Sonali chicken farmers of Wazirpur Upazila in
with our findings. Barishal district. We found that the maximum
percentage of farmers were middle-aged male who
Problem faced by Sonali chicken farmers
had a secondary level of education. A farmer with a
Despite poultry production's dominant position in medium land size earned the most money only
the livestock industry, it is not without its hurdles. from the chicken farms. Although Sonali farming is
The challenges of poultry production cannot be promoted as a successful venture for Barisal
understated, and these difficulties have hampered farmers, they have to face many problems during
the industry's rate of output. Farmers in the farming and marketing. To improve the socio-
research area were asked to list the challenges economic condition of the farmers and reduce the
they were facing, along with their severity. Major problems of farmers, the government should
portion of the farmers identified the irregular implement a strategy that will persuade basic
fluctuation of market price of feeds and day-old research in feeds, feeding and nutrition, general
chicks as highly severe problem tackled by the management, and economic and social aspects of
Sonali chicken farmers followed by high price of raising the profitability and usability of Sonali. The
feed but low price of meat. Rahman et al. (1998) market should be made stable so that prices of
stated that market price fluctuation of concentrate day-old chicks, feed, and medicine don’t increase
feed is very common in rural areas that have a suddenly, and the value of live birds doesn’t drop
great influence on meat and egg production. The immediately and unexpectedly. Good quality chicks
existence of middlemen was another foremost are the top priority, and so a government hatchery
problem. In the study area, poultry marketing was should be available in every district.
done by traditional marketing systems where the
farmers were sometimes forced to sell Sonali References
chickens at lower prices because of inadequate Ahmed JU, L Mozumdar, KS Farid and MW Rahman
market information, transport facilities, etc. Besides (2009). Broiler farming: An approach to
these, inadequate availability of quality feed improve rural livelihood. Journal of
inadequate availability of quality chick, inadequate Bangladesh Agricultural University, 7(2):
availability of technical advisor, lack of vaccine, 395-402.
disease outbreak and natural disaster have also https://doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v7i2.4752
been identified as key problems of Sonali chicken
farming in Barishal district. Hannan et al. (2020) Alam M, S Sultana, MM Hassan, M Hasanuzzaman and
MSA Faruk (2014). Socio-economic status of
identified irregular fluctuation of market price as
the farmers and economic analysis of poultry
the highly severe problem followed by unscrupulous
farming at Gazipur district in Bangladesh.
middleman, social security and political unrest, International Journal of Natural Sciences, 4(2):
monopoly business syndicate, inadequate 8- 12.
availability of quality feed, inadequate availability https://doi.org/10.3329/ijns.v4i2.28598
of quality chick, load shedding of electricity, natural
disaster and inadequate availability of technical

9
 Howlader et al. (2022), Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 51 (1): 1-11

Al-Nasser A, H Al-Khalaifa, A Al-Saffar, F Khalil, M of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Animal

Albahouh, G Ragheb, A Al-Haddad, and M Science, 46 (1): 29-34.
Mashaly (2007). Overview of chicken https://doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v46i1.32173
taxonomy and domestication. World's Poultry
Hossen MF, MAB Siddque, MA Hamid, MM Rahman
Science Journal, 63(2): 285–300.
and MIZ Moni (2012). Study on the problems
https://doi.org/10.1017/S004393390700147X
and prospects of Sonali (poultry) farming in
Barua A and MAR Howlider (1990). Prospect of different village levels of Joypurhat district in
native chicken in Bangladesh. Poultry Bangladesh. Bangladesh Research
Adviser, 23: 57-61. Publications Journal, 6: 330-337.
Begum IA, MJ Alam, J Buysse, A Frija and G Van Huque QME, SA Chowdhury, ME Haque and BK Sill
Huylenbroeck (2011). A comparative (1999). Poultry Research in Bangladesh:
efficiency analysis of poultry farming systems Present Status and its Implications for Future
in Bangladesh: A Data Envelopment Analysis Research. In: F. Dolberg, and P. H. Peterson,
approach. Applied Economics, 44: 3737-3747. Eds. Proceedings of a workshop on Poultry as
https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2011.581216 a Tool in Poverty Eradication and Promotion
of Gender Equality, 22-26 March 1999, Tune
Das SC, SD Chowdhury, MA Khatun, M Nishibori, N
Landboskole,
Isobe and Y Yoshimura (2008). Poultry
Denmark, pp. 151-164.
production profit and expected future
projection in Bangladesh. World Poultry Islam MS, S Takashi and KQN Chhabi (2010).
Science Journal, 64: 99-118. Current Scenario of the Small-scale Broiler
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0043933907001754 Farming in Bangladesh: Potentials for the
Eva F (2013). Use pattern of antibiotics in poultry Future Projection. International Journal of
rations of some selected farms of Khulna Poultry Science, 9 (5): 440-445.
https://doi.org/10.3923/ijps.2010.440.445
region. Undergraduate thesis, Agro-
technology Discipline, Khulna University, Islam SS, C Paul and BC Sarker (2013). A
Khulna. comparative study on the performances of
layer hybrids in some selected areas of
FAO (2015). Comparative performance of Sonali
Khulna region. Bangladesh Journal of Animal
chickens, commercial broilers, layers and
Science, 42 (2): 114-122.
local non-descript (deshi) chickens in
https://doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v42i2.18491
selected areas of Bangladesh. Animal
Production and Health Working Paper, No. Kumar VP and S Manotosh (1994). Relationship
14. between scientific knowledge and its
adoption in poultry management by farmers.
Hai MA, M Mahiuddin, MAR Howlider and T Yeasmin
Indian Journal of Poultry Science, 29(2):
(2008). Pattern and problem of poultry
207-208.
consumption by the rural and urban families
of Fulbaria Upazila. Journal of Bangladesh Larbi-Apau JA and DB Sarpong (2010).
Agricultural University, 6:307-313. Performance measurement: Does education
https://doi.org/10.3329/jbau.v6i2.4827 impact productivity? Performance
Improvement Quarterly, 22(4): 81-97.
Hannan MA, MB Ahmed and SS Islam (2020).
Socioeconomic condition and problem https://doi.org/10.1002/piq.20069
confrontation by the chicken farmers in the
Nouman M, MF Siddiqi, S Mohammad and Z
southwestern region of Bangladesh. Asian
Hussain (2013). Impact of socio-economic
Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 6
characteristics of farmers on access to
(3): 507-513.
agricultural credit. Sarhad Journal of
https://doi.org/10.3329/ajmbr.v6i3.49801
Agriculture, 29(3): 469-476.
Hossain MM, MK Alam and M Haque (2017).
Prabakaran R (2003). Good practices in planning
Livelihood improvement of poor farmers
and management of integrated commercial
through goat rearing in Mymensingh district

10
 Sonali chicken farming in Barishal

poultry production in South Asia. FAO Animal Rahman M, P Sorensen, HA Jensen and F Dolberg
Production and Health Paper 159, Food and (1997b). Exotic hens under semi scavenging
Agriculture Organization of the United conditions in Bangladesh. Livestock Research
nations, Rome, Italy. for Rural Development, 9 (3): 1-11.
Pruthi SP and PS Grewal (1992). Problems and Rao CV (1990). Native fowl genetic resources in
prospect of broiler farms in Bhiwari district. India- A study perspective. Poultry Guide, 27
Poultry Punch, VII(10): 49-51. (6): 34-39.
Rahman MM, MR Islam, MN Ullah and FMM Adeyl Saleque MA and FH Ansarey (2020). Poultry
(2002). Study on the scientific knowledge industry: Challenges and solutions. Daily
and managemental skill in commercial broiler Sun; 29 August, 2020. Available at:
farming programme at the farmers level of https://www.daily-
Rajshahi district. OnLine Journal of Biological sun.com/printversion/details/502289/
Science, 2(11): 767- 768.
Shahjahan M and AKFH Bhuiyan (2016). Socio-
Rahman MM, S Akther and MM Hossain (1997a). economic condition and indigenous poultry
Socio economic aspects of the farmers for production scenario in a selected cluster area
livestock keeping in Mymensingh town of Bangladesh. Asian Australasian Journal of
adjacent areas. Progressive Agriculture, 8: Bioscience and Biotechnology, 1(3): 557-
153-157. 563.
https://doi.org/10.3923/jbs.2002.767.768
Simon PC (2009). Commercial egg and poultry
Rahman MM, S Akther and MM Hossain (1998). The meat production and consumption and
availability of the livestock feeds and feeding poultry trade worldwide. In: Proceedings of
practices followed by the farmers of some the 6th International poultry show and
areas of Mymensingh District. Bangladesh seminar, 5-7 March 2009, Dhaka,
Journal of Animal Science, 27: 119-126. Bangladesh.
Yasmin L, MA Hossain, MAM Miah, MM Rahman
(1989). Characteristics of backyard poultry
farmers affecting their knowledge on poultry
production (in Bangladesh). Bangladesh
Journal of Training and Development, 2(1):
22-30.

11