Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - Malaysia said on Thursday it will strive to stock up on chicken as part of moves to guarantee domestic su...
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| Image: Reuters |
Berita 24 English - Malaysia said on Thursday it will strive to stock up on chicken as part of moves to guarantee domestic supplies and control soaring food costs, amid a restriction on exports of the poultry.
The Southeast Asian, which sends live chickens mostly to nearby Singapore and Thailand, on June 1 banned shipments of chickens until output and prices stabilised, the latest indicator of worsening global food shortages.
Prices of chicken in Malaysia, one of its cheapest sources of protein, have surged in recent months after a worldwide feed scarcity worsened by the Russia-Ukraine war interrupted production.
The government has agreed to "create a way of establishing chicken stockpiles" effective immediately, Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Ronald Kiandee said in a statement.
He did not provide details on how the government would manage the domestic chicken supply.
The government would also ease import procedures of soy, wheat, corn as well as animal and plant-based livestock feed, and will set up a "priority lane" to hasten imports until chicken supply stablises, he said.
Chicken feed typically comprises of such grains and soybeans, which Malaysia imports.
Ronald said the government will also implement measures to help food manufactures and feedmill operators cut production cost, including evaluating electricity price, and will provide poultry producers a special exemption, to recruit migrant workers amid a labour shortage.
Malaysia's chicken supply, which fell in February, is projected to stabilise from June onwards, he noted.
