HULU SELANGOR: The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry will monitor the effects of the crisis between Russia and Ukraine on the country’s agrofood sector.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee stated this was as a result of Malaysia had a dependence on items produced by the international locations concerned, and any crisis would certainly have a big impact on the agrofood trade.
He stated that if the crisis extended, the federal government wouldn’t low cost implementing different measures, together with encouraging the use of natural fertilisers within the agriculture sector, to exchange chemical fertilisers.
This, he stated, was after making an allowance for that Russia is among the many world’s main fertiliser producers.
“We will look into that. In reality, now we have promoted the use of natural fertilisers along with current chemical fertilisers.
“Even the natural fertiliser trade has grown within the nation and is ready to produce numerous manufacturers of natural fertilisers to be used within the agricultural sector,” he stated after visiting a poultry farm and broiler right here on Monday (Feb 28).
Ronald additionally felt that the current enhance in feed costs, which affected poultry and egg manufacturing, had highlighted the significance of Malaysia having a brand new coverage, specifically to encourage the cultivation of corn within the agricultural trade.
He stated this was a long-term measure to cut back Malaysia’s dependence on imports of animal feed from international locations like Argentina and Brazil.
He stated the federal government at the moment offered a subsidy of RM528.52mil to the poultry trade to assist them address the elevated manufacturing prices following the spike in feed costs.
“So far, this subsidy shall be given for a interval of 4 months and, after that, the federal government will research whether or not it’s to be continued or stopped,” he stated.
The announcement of the subsidy in early February was 60 sen per kg to poultry farmers and a subsidy of 5 sen per egg, with software to get them open from as we speak till June 6. – Bernama
