KUALA LUMPUR – Two DAP lawmakers have called for the government to assist pig farmers as they struggled with lower production as a result of higher operation costs, which leads to higher retail prices.
Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin and Rasah MP Cha Kee Chin said pork prices per kilo have been increasing steadily since the end of last year, with increases of more than 50% in the peninsula and up to 47% in Sabah.
The duo called on Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee to step in and propose solutions, claiming he should be able to relate to local issues affecting his state, since he is a Sabah native.
“We would like to urge the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry to immediately look into the plight of pig farmers to help them cope with the constant increase in the prices of livestock feed over the past few months.”
Among the suggestions was for the federal government to provide some form of financial assistance to pig farmers.
“This may either be in the form of guarantees, loans, cost-sharing arrangements, wage subsidies, feed subsidies, entrepreneurship grants,” they said.
As for state governments, they suggested assistance to these farmers be given in the form of assessment or quit-rent reductions or waivers, reducing red tape while speeding up the issuance of licences, and with the fulfilment of other legal requirements for setting up pig farms.
“All these would certainly help pig farmers to increase pork production, keep pork prices at a reasonable level, and maintain national food security in the long run,” they added.
Recently, butchers and eatery owners lamented the ongoing increase in pork prices that have worsened after the turn of the new year.
Business owners said their suppliers cited increasing animal feed prices and general operational costs as the reason behind the price hikes. – The Vibes, May 6, 2022
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