Open up land for grain cultivation, DAP tells govt

 

DAP says state governments should set aside land for grain cultivation to reduce dependence on expensive wheat and corn imports. (Farming Agriculture pic)

PETALING JAYA: DAP has called on the government to set aside land for a nationwide grain cultivation programme to ensure sufficient supply of chicken feed.

Malaysia is heavily dependent on imports such as wheat and corn which are used for chicken feed, with the war between Russia and Ukraine – which make up a third of global wheat production and are also major exporters of food grains like corn – severely impacting imports.

“The federal government should act immediately by involving all state governments to prepare large-scale land for grain cultivation to reduce dependence on imports,” said DAP secretary general Loke Siew Fook in a statement.

“Although the agriculture and food industries ministry has allocated RM528.52 million for a subsidy of 60 sen per kilogramme (to poultry farmers), this rate needs to be reviewed in line with the pressure of excessive chicken feed costs.

“The subsidies should also be implemented without bureaucracy and channelled to farmers immediately.”

It was previously reported that four poultry companies were planning a “boycott” over the weekend because of the government’s delay in providing the subsidy.

Stressing that the government’s decision to halt approved permits (APs) for the import of foodstuffs will not solve the problem of rising food prices and ensure supply, Loke said many countries are struggling with their own domestic food security issues, and the major food producing countries will focus on their own needs first.

“Furthermore, with the weakening of the ringgit, food imports from other countries will cost more,” he said.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday said the weekly Cabinet meeting had been brought forward from Wednesday to today to discuss the rising prices of essential goods and the country’s chicken supply. - FMT