Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s heavy reliance on imported animal feed, which accounts for approximately 98 per cent of its needs, has been identified as a key factor contributing to the higher prices of chicken and eggs compared to Peninsular Malaysia.
State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said that corn is the main component of feed, making up between 60 and 70 per cent of the total livestock production costs.
He said this dependency on imported corn exposes local prices to fluctuations in logistics and sea freight costs.
As a result, Jamawi said, it remains challenging to reduce market prices unless feed input costs decline significantly.
He added that the State Government is actively working on strategies to improve self-sufficiency in feed production, aiming to ease cost pressures in the long run.
To support this effort, the government has allocated RM25 million to develop 1,000 acres of commercial corn farms across Sabah this year.
Advertisement
Jamawi noted that this initiative is expected to meet at least 20 per cent of the state’s feed requirements domestically in the near term.
In addition, the government is strengthening the role of the Sabah Agriculture Marketing Authority (Sama) by activating 25 agricultural collection centres across each parliamentary area.
This initiative is designed to help farmers market their produce more efficiently and directly.
Meanwhile, the ministry is launching the “Kebun Dapur” roadshow programme, starting in Papar on May 1, in conjunction with the Kaamatan Festival.
The programme will offer free and subsidised assistance, including vegetable seeds and a 50 per cent discount on layer and broiler chicks.
Jamawi said that promotional prices will also be available for fruit seedlings, fish fry, and MD2 pineapple plants to encourage households to participate in small-scale farming and livestock activities.
