The poultry value chain and sustainable development of poultry microenterprises that utilize homestead lands: A case study in Gazipur, Bangladesh

In recent years, many commercial poultry farm microenterprises (MEs) have flourished in rural areas in Bangladesh. The poor entrepreneurs who own as little land as 0.5 acres have developed poultry farms extensively, utilizing their homestead land with the help of microfinance. These poultry farm MEs are in a key position for the profitable operation of all other actors in the poultry value chain. However, owing to some constraints these MEs are not able to earn optimum profits, and thus affect the growth of all other allied farms. In this paper, the poultry sector value chain in the Gazipur district, located near the capital city of Dhaka, has been analyzed, using primary information collected through a field survey of the microentrepreneurs. Gazipur has the highest concentration of poultry MEs, and considerable access to support services. However, the subsector still faces some limitations, especially with regard to the enabling environment. So, the study tries to identify these constraints and make recommendations as to how to overcome these problems, as to ensure a higher profit for the MEs, and sustainable development of the subsector. Consequently, it expects to enable non-government organizations (NGOs), as well as government organizations, to design interventions and undertake appropriate policy development.

► Many poultry microenterprises (MEs) have flourished in rural areas in Bangladesh.
► These MEs are developed utilizing homestead land with the help of microfinance.
► These MEs are in a key position for the profitable operation of other allied farms.
► Constraints with regard to the enabling environment affect sustainable development.
► The study makes recommendations enabling organizations to design interventions.