Malaysia eyes to keep feed prices down

Increasing prices for raw materials might hamper the government’s plans to be
self-sufficient in food production within the next five years.

Deputy
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Shariff Omar
said livestock farmers and breeders had complained that they might have to leave
the industry if nothing was done to solve the problem. “We will meet feed
producers to discuss the problem. Giving subsidies is also in our plans,” he
said recently at the opening of a new goat farm.

Mohamad Shariff said the
price of a 50kg bag of high quality palm kernel cake was now RM54 (€ 11.28)
compared to RM40 (€ 8.35) six months ago and was expected to increase to RM60 (€
12.53) soon.

As an example, local supply of beef can only meet 22% of
demand and thus 23,000 tonnes of beef need to be imported. This is strongly in
contrast with the government’s aim to increase local supply to 28% bij
2010.

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