SHAH ALAM, April 24 — The state government is expected to start its corn cultivation project to produce chicken feed after Hari Raya Aidilfitri this May in an effort to overcome the price hike of the commodity.
State executive councillor for infrastructure, public utilities, agriculture modernisation and agro-based industry Izham Hashim said this project under the Intervensi Ehsan programme of the Selangor Agriculture Development Corporation (PKPS) would be carried out on 121 hectares (300 acres) of land in Selangor and 162 hectares (400 acres) in Negeri 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, PKPS 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 in Section 13 earlier today.
Meanwhile, PKPS chief executive officer 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 Negeri Sembilan. God willing, we will start the cultivation (of corn) after Raya while the location in Negeri Sembilan is being identified.
"Further details on this programme will be announced by Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari together with YB Izham soon," he added.
— Bernama
