PORT DICKSON: The supply of chicken and egg is expected to stabilise in the next four months to meet domestic demand, says Agriculture and Food Industries (Mafi) Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.

       This follows various incentives and subsidies provided to industry players especially poultry farmers, which would ease their burden in the face of rising costs including raw materials, he added.

       “The government has taken action to cover some of the implications of the increase in the production cost.

       “We give it four months, (farming) chickens take 30 to 40 days, so it needs to take some time (for the supply to stabilise),” he told Bernama after attending the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority’s Emergency Response Support Team training programme yesterday.

       On Feb 9, the government had agreed to provide a subsidy of 60sen per kg to poultry farmers, by taking into account the farm-level price of live chickens at RM5.90 per kg and the retail price of standard chicken at RM8.90 per kg; as well as a five sen subsidy for each egg from all categories until June 4.

       In the meantime, Ronald reiterated that the government’s move to allow the import of whole chickens was temporary to address the issue of supply shortage in the country until it stabilises.