Chicken shortage: Bin red tape and provide subsidies to farm operators, DAP says
WITH several states reporting shortage in chicken supply, the DAP urged the Government to accelerate subsidy payment to chicken farm operators soon to alleviate their burden.
(Focus Malaysia) – “Although the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry had set aside RM528.52 mil in subsidies for chicken farm operators at 60 sen a kilogramme, the rate must be reviewed from time to time in view of rising cost of chicken feed.
“And the ministry should also dish out the subsidies quickly to farm operators without the hassle of going through unnecessary bureaucracy,” its secretary-general Anthony Loke said in a statement.
Four days ago, Utusan Malaysia alleged that a group of cartels involving in the poultry business were planning to shut down chicken farms this coming weekend to protest against the Government’s purported delay in providing subsidies.
The closure is expected to skyrocket chicken prices, affecting consumers and retailers.
“The ‘hidden hand’ tried to ration chicken supply in the market in the past but failed. So now, they are attempting to shut down farms.
“Their excuse is that the Government has been delaying to provide subsidy, given that chicken feed costs have escalated. They claim the authorities are unsympathetic towards the supply issues despite rising costs,” the daily quoted a source as saying.
Yesterday, several states such as Perlis and Selangor had reported shortage in chicken supply in several areas.
Perlis Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) director Dr Adam Abdullah Kwan said that several traders have started rationing sales on their own to enable more customers to get chicken.
Selangor State Infrastructure, Public Utilities, Modernisation of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Izham Hashim, on the other hand, blamed the shortage to excessive demand.
Start prioritising food security
Touching on the matter, Loke said that chicken supply disruption should not have occurred and the Government’s failure to address the issue was unacceptable.
He added that chicken is an important source of protein for common folks and Putrajaya should act fast to remedy the situation
