Uncertain if the government will be chickening out yet again on the lifting of the export ban of chickens, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries said there could be an announcement on the lifting very soon, by this month it added.
Deputy Agriculture and Food Industries Minister I, Datuk Seri Ahmad Hamzah said the government is considering lifting the chicken export ban following the stabilisation of the chicken supply in the country apart from production exceeding demand, said
“The ministry has solved whatever public complaints and grievances related to the issue of shortage of chicken and eggs and currently these supplies are in excess.
“The matter has been examined at the ministry level after receiving an application from breeders,” he added. The ban has been a bane for breeders and poultry farmers who have not been to sell their stock overseas, especially in Singapore which pays a much higher premium for the birds. Since the staple is price controlled in Malaysia, many chicken business owners have been struggling to keep the business afloat due to high feed costs and operating expenses.
According to Ahmad currently, the self-sufficiency level for chicken is 104 percent while the SSL for eggs at 115 percent which exceeds domestic demand. Previously the government only allowed a total of 3.6 million chickens to be exported before banning exports from June 1.
Prior to this, it was reported that the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation would look into setting a ceiling price for chicken and carry out a study to allow chicken exports again.
