KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is not likely to face a shortage of chicken supply as the state is self-sufficient production-wise, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

       The State Agriculture and Fisheries Minister said while the country was facing a serious supply issue at present, the state was not expected to receive such an impact.

       "I do not foresee this will be a problem for us.

       "Based on information I got, we do not rely on importing chickens as our local supply is sufficient.

       "Maybe near Kaamatan, the supply might reduce but this will be cushioned by our own chicken supply from villages," he said, adding that the same goes for fish and pork supplies ahead of the harvest festival celebration.

       On the Federal announcement of exports of chicken from Malaysia to be banned come June, he said the state will follow the Federal directive but clarified that Sabah producers do not export much to begin with.

       Kitingan said the present situation was also an indication that backyard farming should be encouraged.

       "Maybe we should start farming on our own, another good thing from not buying commercial chicken is to avoid any type of chemicals (to boost production)," he said.

       On the lifting of the approved Permit (AP) for chickens to make it easier for the country’s importers to get sufficient supply, Kitingan said Sabah actually does not require APs for importers to bring in chicken parts and whole standard chickens.

       At present, Sabah’s chicken industry is producing 6.6 million kilogrammes of chicken a day, and 2.5 million eggs per day.