KUALA LUMPUR: Starting July 1, the government will no longer provide subsidy to chicken breeders.
The money instead would be used to help the needy especially those in the B40 income bracket in the form of financial assistance that would be channelled to them directly.
This is one of several measures announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to address the surge in prices of essential goods in the country subsequently to alleviate the people's burden.
"Te government provides subsidy to chicken breeders to ensure poultry price remains at RM8.90 (per kilogramme).
"Until today, the government has spent RM720 million to ensure that there is no increase in chicken prices.
"However, many of the chicken breeders do not claim the subsidy. Therefore, starting July 1, the government will no longer give subsidy to chicken breeders and the fund will be used to provide the people with financial assistance that will be channelled to them directly," said the prime minister.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs as well as the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministries will give the details on the matter soon.
The government, he said, also wanted the agro-based food industry to be intensified, including boosting chicken production as well as corn crop yield to be turned into chicken feed.
"For this purpose, the government has pledged RM500 million to set up an Agro Fund that will be distributed in the form of soft loans to players in the agro-food industry," he said.
