Johor poultry farmers in a price bind
MALAYSIA - Poultry breeders in Johor are facing a dilemma following the increase of the price of chicks, chicken feed and medicines, reports Gladys Tay, The Star.State Malay Poultry Breeders Association chairman Mohd Judyar Malik said the highest increase was for vaccines and medicines.
He said a bottle of vaccine for 1,000 chickens cost RM14 compared to the previous rate of RM10 a few months ago, while a kilogram of cough medicine now costs RM80 instead of RM60.
Mohd Judyar said that the price of chicks had also increased from RM0.90 to RM1.30 each.
"The price of chickenfeed has increased by RM10, from RM56 to RM66 for every 50 kg," he said after the association's first general meeting, officiated by Machap state assemblyman Datuk Abd Hamid Abd Rahman at Kampung Parit Hassan in Simpang Renggam.
He also said that the breeders were also facing a shortage of workers as many of them had run away after working at their poultry farms for a few months.