By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, May 18 — The grain corn planting project in Kuala Langat Selatan, Kuala Langat near here and Gemas, Negeri Sembilan has the potential to reduce livestock feed imports by between two to three per cent.
Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari said the joint venture project between Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) and Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan (Incorporated) or MBINS which cost RM3 million will begin after clean-up work is completed in the third quarter of this year.
“The project on 283.2 hectares of land is a sign of commitment to a comprehensive solution to the soaring chicken feed prices due to dependence on imports of livestock feed.
"Based on references from the United States, this crop is able to produce three times a year with each round taking 100 days," he said.
He said this at a press conference after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PKPS and MBINS for the grain corn planting project through the Food Security Initiative programme.
The MoU was signed by PKPS group chief executive officer Dr Mohamad Khairil Mohamad Razi and state financial officer cum MBINS managing director Datuk Mohd Khidir Majid.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Amirudin and Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.
Also present was the state executive councillor for agricultural modernisation and agro-based industry Izham Hashim.
In the meantime, Amirudin described the implementation of the project as a creative and innovative attempt by both parties.
“I believe we are presenting a (new) model (grain corn planting project). If successful, maybe we can combine it (the solution) with others because the challenge is in the expertise to cultivate the grain corn.
“Of course, it requires certain soil types and supervision. So this business model is a creative and innovative experiment,” he said.
