Poultry Value Chain Mapping Across Bangladesh-India and Bangladesh-Myanmar Borders
The poultry population as well as the human beings throughout the world are facing a tremendous threat due to the emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) during the last 4-5 years. Bangladesh has recorded one 
non-fatal human case in 2008, but has experienced large scale epidemic in domestic poultry. Although the situation in poultry is improving gradually due to several initiatives, it is important to prevent and control the disease through awareness building and practicing strict bio-security in poultry in order to contain and eliminate the virus at its source and reduce the threat of pandemic both in poultry and human beings. A research project was undertaken to specifically study the cross border movement of poultry and poultry products with the objective to identify the high risk areas, actors involved and routs of product flows that would provide information to address the risk of cross border transmission of disease.
BCCP in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) conducted the study on Poultry Value Chain Mapping across Bangladesh–India and Bangladesh–Myanmar Borders to identify the high risk factors and routes of product flows. During the study, BCCP received enormous support of the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Government of Bangladesh, especially in selecting border areas of Bangladesh.
The study was conducted in six corridors with India namely Comilla, Sonamasjid (Chapai Nawabganj), Hili (Dinajpur), Patgram (Lalmonirhat), Lalmonirhat Sadar including Aditmari, Benapol (Jessore) and one corridor with Myanmar at Teknaf (Cox’s bazaar). From each target location five rural poultry markets were selected. At each market four categories of respondents were identified. These included poultry seller/retailer, trader community people engaged in poultry rearing practice and key informants. Data collection was done on two occasions within a period of 3 months; however, an additional round data collection was conducted based on the new outbreak situation arising in one of the target location.
The data obtained is a blend of qualitative and quantitative techniques. The data was collected through interviews of 618 individual respondents, 110 FGDs and 4 group discussions (including all categories of respondents). It was evident 
from the study that the flow of poultry across border exists. Sometimes the exchange is commercial; sometimes it is regarded as social. The benefits of trade are implied whereas the social aspects include visiting friends and in-laws, religious purposes and festivities. Quite a huge volume of poultry and poultry products move in this manner across the borders.