Getting supplies of our staples right

PETALING JAYA: The government will adopt a cautious approach by considering various factors before removing subsidies for eggs, says Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

“I want to assure the public that we are closely monitoring developments. We prioritise an inclusive decision-making process involving key stakeholders such as egg producers and the public, or those who may be disadvantaged.“If the circumstances prove favourable, we will move forward with the decision (to fully lift subsidies).

Regarding the specific timing, I anticipate it won’t be long,” he said during his visit to the Star Media Group’s headquarters at Menara Star here on Friday.Mohamad said the foremost consideration in eliminating egg subsidies is to prevent consumers from shouldering the entire weight of price hikes.

“The decision is not unilateral; it involves consultations with various entities, including the Statistics Department, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry as well as livestock producers,” he added.The ministry announced on Nov 1 that while chicken prices would fluctuate, subsidies and price control for Grade A, B, and C eggs will continue under the current mechanism. The retail ceiling prices are set at 45sen for Grade A eggs, 43sen for Grade B and 41sen for Grade C.

The Star earlier reported that Malaysia’s egg industry faces challenges in maintaining adequate buffer levels due to increased demand amid reduced production. While the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) said the egg supply is stable, it emphasised the need for more time to strengthen the supply chain against potential disruptions.

Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia deputy president Lee Yoon Yeau attributed the current insufficient egg supply to high production costs that have caused farms to decrease output by 20% to 30%.

In the lead-up to the first anniversary of the unity government, Mohamad’s key performance indicators (KPIs) for his term are prioritising rice production to the extent of being nearly self-sufficient. He said one measure to bump up local rice production is by adopting the methods of the Sekinchan Large-Scale Smart Padi Field (SMART SBB) project in Selangor.

“Irrigation is a crucial aspect of running SMART SBB. We must ensure there is sufficient water according to our planting schedule. Proper fertilisation, water management and all other elements must be well organised,” said Mohamad, who also acknowledged the challenges of achieving complete self-sufficiency.

“The average rice yield in Malaysia is between 3.5 and four tonnes per hectare in areas (managed by the) Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) and Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (Kada). We would be self-sufficient if we could achieve six tonnes per hectare. We could even consider exporting if we can hit seven tonnes per hectare.“There are ongoing issues and we must focus on achieving self-sufficiency. I am confident we can move in this direction,” he said.

Despite some experts suggesting that Malaysia adopt System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technology, which can boost rice yields to 12 to 15 tonnes per hectare, Mohamad highlighted the promising results observed in Sekinchan SMART SBB.

Efforts are underway to achieve six tonnes or more rice yield for self-sufficiency in Malaysia.

He further said SMART SBB has successfully expanded to Kedah and Perlis and is currently being implemented in Terengganu and Kelantan, with Pahang next in the line.

Meanwhile, on another matter, Mohamad Sabu said Amanah Youth should lead in getting the people in Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu, which are currently under the Opposition, to support the unity government.

The party president said such efforts needed to be carried out jointly with Umno Youth to restore the position of Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional in the four states.

“To regain control of Kelantan and Terengganu, we need to work closely and harder so that Umno is strong again.”