Growing Corn In Indonesia To Reduce Feed Cost
MALAYSIA - Local poultry farmers and livestock breeders will be able to grow corn in Indonesia and export it to Malaysia via reverse investment, as part of efforts to reduce the rising cost of animal feed that has risen 40% - 50% yearly.
25 October 2007
2 minute read
The Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry said it was currently in discussions with the provincial authorities in northern Sulawesi to allow Malaysian farmers to cultivate corn there to reduce the import of animal feed, which amounts to RM2 billion annually.
Speaking to reporters after launching the Livestock Asia 2007 Expo and Forum here yesterday, its minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin said there was a need to address the rising cost of animal feed here as 80% of the RM2 billion imported animal feed comprised corn-based feed.
"We are working closely with the livestock and feed-millers association to overcome this problem, partially, if not fully," he said, adding that corn growing was part of his ministry’s multi-prong strategy to lower costs for poultry farmers.
Muhyiddin said his ministry would discuss in greater detail the possibility of a joint venture between Malaysian livestock and poultry breeders and their Indonesian counterparts including funding.
