PETALING JAYA: The immediate setting up of a chicken stockpile is among a host of measures that the government will take to address the current shortage of food supplies, says Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.

       “The chicken stockpile will involve the cooperation of the Farmers’ Organisation Authority and will be implemented immediately,” he said yesterday.

       The move, he said, was one of several proactive measures agreed to at a recent Cabinet meeting to address the shortage of food supplies.

       Kiandee also said the Cabinet had agreed to expedite the subsidy payments to chicken breeders, of which RM157.53mil would be channelled to small-scale and medium-scale breeders immediately.

       He added that the government had also agreed to simplify the import procedure of the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) on four commodities – soy, wheat, corn and poultry as well as plants – through delaying permit fees.

       “In addition, the Cabinet agreed to expedite the processing of import licences via the Veterinary Services Department (DVS) through interim approvals beginning July 1, with an approval process of within a week,” he said in a statement.

       Previously, it took between 30 and 90 days for DVS to approve import licences and this new seven-day procedure would now benefit 380 feed-importing companies, he said.

       “Also, to lower the rising cost of operations of food production, a revision on all electrical tariffs of the agro-food industry will be implemented,” he added.

       Another matter agreed to by the Cabinet was to give a special exemption to the hiring of foreign workers.

       “This allows the workers to be employed based on the needs of the chicken-breeding industry,” said Kiandee.

       At a function, the minister said homegrown companies should forge strategic ties with international corporations to improve Malaysia’s agriculture and food industries.

       “Strategic collaboration provides excellent opportunities for knowledge transfer, supply chain optimisation and the development of new farming techniques among others,” he said after witnessing the signing of a partnership between Hoogendoorn Growth Management, an innovative proprietor of process automation systems in greenhouse horticulture from the Netherlands and Idea Company Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian outfit.

       Kiandee said partnerships like these had the potential to elevate Malaysia’s agriculture industry and accelerate the adoption of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) technologies.

       “It is also part of the government’s aspirations of the National Agrofood Policy whereby the usage and application of technology is taking place here in Malaysia.

       “At the same, these efforts will promote agricultural entrepreneurship in Malaysia and rejuvenate the sector,” he added.

       Idea Company managing director Zachary Aman said the partnership would provide a suitable environment for crops to grow, especially in the lowlands, which have warmer and more humid conditions.

       “Currently, we are controlling conditions in our greenhouse by monitoring temperature and humidity.

       “Through the system from Hoogendoorn, the additional sunlight element is harmonised with our existing measures to create a more consistent and conducive environment for our plants,” he said.

       Zachary added that the collaboration and good relationship with Hoogendoorn would allow continuous sharing of information and learning from each other on potential solutions and creative ideas.

       Also present at the ceremony were the Netherlands’ Deputy Ambassador to Malaysia and economic section head Eva Oskam, Hoogendoorn Growth Management general manager (Asia) Wierd Vonk, Malaysian Dutch Business Council executive director Marco Winter and Agricultural Department director-general Datuk Zahimi Hassan.