January 25, 2008

Poultry farmers in Malaysia's state of Johor facing high prices

Johor's poultry producers are facing a hard time ahead after the price increase of chicks, feed, and medicines, reported Malaysia's newspaper The Star.

State Malay Poultry Breeders Association chairman Mohd Judyar Malik said vaccines and medicines have the highest price increase.

According to Mohd Judyar, a bottle for vaccine for 1,000 chickens cost RM14 (US$4.3) from the previous rate of RM10 (US$3.1) a few months ago, while a kilogramme of cough medicine now costs RM80 (US$24.7) instead of RM60 (US$18.5).

Even the price of chicks had increased from RM0.90 (US$0.28) to RM1.30 (US$0.40) each. Price of feed per 50 kg has also increased by RM10 (US$3.1).

Mohd Judyar said producers are also facing a shortage of workers as many of them chose to leave after working at the poultry farms for only a few months, forcing producers to use machines to feed the chickens for the past few years.

It is Mohd Judyar's hope that the government could control the prices to help the industry's development.

If the government can control the price of chickens in the market, there is no reason why they would not be able to do so for feed and medicines, he said.