Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu. Photo JAPEN
KUALA LUMPUR: The local corn planting project is among the steps taken by the government at this time to reduce the burden on small and medium farmers in facing the high cost of livestock feed.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said that local corn planting has begun in Perlis with an area of 2,000 hectares.
He said the initiative has the potential to be expanded to Sabah and Sarawak due to the vast land areas owned by both regions.
“There are already 15 companies involved in this local corn project. At the initial stage, the government will provide support because it does require assistance, including in terms of finance, logistics and so on.
“We are working and hope that it will be expanded in Sabah and Sarawak, because the land there is still vast. The government hopes that both regions can be involved in this corn planting project.
“We hope this effort can reduce the price of food, especially for livestock,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Richard Rapu (GPS-Betong) who wanted to know the government's steps to ensure that small and medium-sized farmers are not further burdened by the price of imported livestock feed.
Elaborating further, Mohamad said that among other steps taken to address the issue, included introducing the use of palm kernel pulp from local industrial waste and insect protein as a source of livestock feed.
Earlier, in response to Richard's initial question, Mohamad said that the government was implementing various initiatives to help small and medium-sized farmers increase productivity and switch to a closed-cabin system.
He explained that among the initiatives implemented included encouraging the use of technology to increase productivity.
“The use of modern technology such as automation in feeding on a large scale can increase management efficiency, ensure optimal nutrition and improve livestock growth and health,” he said.
