Ismail: Enough chicken for Raya

Going green: Students checking out the plants during the launch of the urban farming programme at Penang Consumers Association in George Town.

GEORGE TOWN: There is ample supply of chicken for this Hari Raya, said Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The problem was poultry prices and he believed that some traders were taking advantage of the coming festive season to raise prices.

“It is possible that some traders are holding back supply because of the high demand,” he said.

Ismail added that it was without question that the cost of chicken feed, which is mostly imported maize, had increased due to the depreciation of the ringgit against the US dollar.

“We have to import because we cannot grow maize in Malaysia. Even the soybeans mixed in the feed are also imported.

“So farmers who have contracts with their chicken feed suppliers now either have to pay more to get the same amount of feed, or get a smaller amount due to the exchange rate.

“We will check with the Veteri­nary Department to see if there is indeed a shortage.

“If there is, we will allow imports,” Ismail told reporters after launching an urban farming programme by the Penang Consumers Association here yesterday.

It was reported that chicken price had increased from RM4.80 to RM5 per kilogram.

Ismail said consumers should also not have any difficulties in obtaining beef and santan for the Raya festivities as it had been well stocked beforehand.

Various representatives from different non-profit organisations and schools were present during the launch of the urban farming programme.