Govt to let chicken breeders, egg producers decide on subsidy split, says Mat Sabu

SERDANG: The government will not be intervening with chicken breeders and egg producers in the negotiation of dividing the subsidy given to them, says Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

The Agriculture and Food Security Minister said on Thursday (May 11) that a total of RM1.28bil in subsidies had been allocated for chicken eggs at a rate of 80sen each.

"The division of the 80sen subsidy per egg should be agreed between the breeders and producers themselves.

"The government will not be involved and will stick with the current subsidy division ratio of 10 sen for chicken breeders and 70sen for egg producers," he said during the ministry's Aidilfitri ballroom event at Malaysian Agro Exposition Park.

On Tuesday (May 9), Mohamad said chicken farmers would soon be able to claim their subsidy for chicken eggs once the government’s online system was fine-tuned.

He said this was for the convenience of farmers to submit their applications online.

On Feb 22, Mohamad said the prices of chicken and eggs were expected to be floated after June as part of the government’s efforts to overcome food shortage.

Separately, Mohamad urged farmers and fishermen to be cautious when working under the current hot weather after the recent death of an 11-year-old child in Kelantan.

"It is advised for farmers and fishermen to drink lots of water while out working," he said.