The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi has said that the prices of chicken and eggs in Malaysia will go up even higher if there is no government intervention. Furthermore, he stressed that KPDNHEP has and will continue to take proactive steps to balance the rise of chicken and eggs prices in the market.
As reported by national news agency Bernama, the KPDNHEP Minister clarified that among the steps that have been taken by his ministry include extending of the Keluarga Malaysia Maximum Price Scheme (SHMKM) until 4 February 2022, importing frozen round chicken and allocating RM262 in soft loans facility to chicken breeder to overcome the sudden rise in chicken prices in the market.
The SHMKM scheme was supposed to end on 31 December 2021 but the ministry has decided to extend the scheme for another 35 days effective New Yearâs day. Furthermore, the ceiling price for chicken has also been fixed by KPDNHEP at RM6.10 per kilogram ex-farm, RM7.80 per kilogram wholesale and RM9.10 per kilogram retail.
Furthermore, the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry (MAFI) also imports 10,000 metric tonne frozen round chicken or 5.5 million chickens a month.
The KPDNHEP Minister said,
âWith the increase in supply in the market, the problem with a supply shortage of chicken is eliminated and at the same time create healthy competition which in turn will control and balance the price of chicken in the market,â
Nanta also said that there will be increase in chicken and eggs prices in the market when SHMKM ends on 4 February based on information received from he engagement session held on Jan 6 with MAFI, Veterinary Department, Finance Ministry, Agrobank representatives and the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia (FLFAM).
He said each party had presented the factors for the increase in the cost of poultry farming operations, including the increase in the cost of chicken feed at the global level and labour shortages due to restrictions on the entry of foreign workers for the sector.
The KPNDHEP Minister further clarified,
âKPDNHEP will continue to monitor the prices from time to time and we wish to assure that appropriate steps will be taken to safeguard the welfare of the consumers and traders,â
KPDNHEP Minister, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi.
He said that the issue of rising chicken prices which involved operating costs influenced by the world market was indeed very challenging and demanded the cooperation of the various ministries and agencies.
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