Author (s):
Selim Raihan and Nahid MahmudDate:
June 2008Publication:
CUTS CITEE Working PaperAbstract:
The poultry industry in Bangladesh is crucial to agricultural growth and improvements in health. It is an attractive economic activity as well, especially to women and the poorer sections of the economy. Poultry farms in Bangladesh have witnessed a rapid growth in recent times. With a high population and income growth, urbanization and high-income elasticity of demand, Bangladesh expects the demand for poultry products to increase appreciably in the future.In order to protect the poultry sector from fierce foreign competition, the government has adopted various measures providing significantly large protection to poultry meat and egg producers. As a result of this high protection, the poultry industry in Bangladesh flourished during the 1990s and has contributed to significant employment and income generation for the poorer sections in the country. Aside from these protective measures, however, Bangladesh lacks comprehensive poultry policy guidelines, and most stakeholders view this policy hole as a major challenge to the sustainability of the industry. This study explores the link between trade policy and poverty in the context of Bangladesh's poultry industry and offers recommendations for further development of the industry in line with international trade policies and best practices.
