Muar, Malaysia
October 14, 2007
Malaysia will embark on a
large-scale planting of corn in Sulawesi island, Indonesia, to
help the poultry industry which was badly hit recently when the
price of chicken feed rose by about 40 percent.
Minister of Agriculture
and Agro-based Industry, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said as a
first step the Sulawesi authorities had agreed to aside 400
hectares for the pioneer project.
"The Malaysian Agricultural
Research and Development Institute (MARDI) discovered the
land is suitable for planting of quality corn," he told a media
briefing at his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house here today.
Over 10,000 people, including
Health Minister, Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek who is also state MCA
chief, attended the function.
Muhyddin said he would hold a meeting with the governor of
Sulawesi in December before encouraging local poultry firms to
participate in the project.
"Apart from using the product for livestock, poultry and fishery
sectors we can also export it." he said.
He said if no action was taken to address the chicken feed price
issue the poultry industry would be affected.
"The poultry farmers will reduce the present chicken supply of
40 million birds a year, of which a big portion goes to
Singapore," he said.
He said import of chicken feed amounted to RM2 billion a year.
Malaysian National News Agency:
BERNAMA |
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