SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government is expected to start its corn cultivation project to produce chicken feed after Hari Raya Aidilfitri this May in an effort to overcome price hikes of the commodity.
State Infrastructure, Public Utilities, Modernisation of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Izham Hashim (pic) said this project under the Intervensi Ehsan (Compassionate Intervention) Programme of the Selangor Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC) would be carried out on 121ha of land in Selangor and 162ha in Negri Sembilan.
Izham said this effort was aimed at reducing the dependence on imported chicken feed, particularly corn, with the price currently reaching billions of ringgit, seen as ridiculous.
"Following this, the SADC has managed to get a company with the experience of growing corn to produce chicken feed. We will see how this could contribute to stabilising the price of chicken feed, especially in Selangor.
"We hope this project can be implemented soon towards resolving the chicken feed price increase issue, not just stabilising the price but also reducing it.
"If this project is successful, Selangor could be the initiator in corn production for chicken feed," he told reporters after a walkabout to view the operation of the Pasar Tani Stadium Seksyen 13, here, Sunday (April 24).
Meanwhile, SADC chief executive officer Dr Mohamad Khairil Mohamad Razi said the corporation expected that over RM3 million would be spent on implementing the project as a long-term solution and the land clearing work in the southern part of Kuala Langat district was being carried out.
"Now we are in the final discussion stage for cross-border cooperation in the project between Selangor and Negri Sembilan. God willing, we will start the cultivation (of corn) after Hari Raya while the location in Negri Sembilan is being identified.
"Further details on this programme will be announced by Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari together with Izham soon," he added. - Bernama