PROCEDURES will be further simplified for poultry farmers to claim government subsidies to ensure continued supply of chicken, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (Mafi) said today.

The issue of subsidies which are channeled through the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) to farmers was discussed at a meeting between minister Ronald Kiandee and 12 major players in the poultry industry and farmers’ associations yesterday.

“The ministry has noted all the issues raised during the session, including higher chicken production costs, the problem of underweight chickens, disease, weather conditions and other processes,” Mafi said in a statement.

“The DVS will continue to simplify and expedite the process of claiming subsidies for farmers to boost domestic production.

“More officers are being mobilised to the states to hasten the review of (subsidy) applications.”

The ministry also noted that only RM50 million of the total RM729.43 million allocation for the subsidy has been paid out.

It did not elaborate on why the take up was low, but there have been complaints from farmers that some of them had not received subsidies since February.

“As such, Mafi is urging all eligible breeders to submit their applications, so that claims can be channelled within the promised period.”

The government subsidy enables chicken to be fixed at a ceiling price, which is currently RM8.90 per kg. This price was fixed for the period of February 5 to early June. 

However, the rising price of chicken feed and other costs have heard calls for the subsidy amount to be raised.

Chicken sellers at markets have said that supply began to drop since Hari Raya.

Last week, the media reported on a poultry processing plant in Melaka that stopped work for two days due to the shortage of chicken supply. Over the weekend, shortages were reported at some wet markets in Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam and Seremban.

Putrajaya yesterday moved to protect domestic supply by suspending the export of 3.6 million chickens a month starting June 1, until prices and production are stable.

Among the big poultry players at the Mafi meeting were Leong Hup Poultry Farm Sdn Bhd, HLRB Broiler Farm Sdn Bhd, PWF Corporation Bhd, the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Association of Malaysia and Selangor State Poultry Breeders Association. – May 24, 2022.