September 27, 2007

 

Malaysian state blames problems with flies on poultry farms

 

 

Malaysia's Negri Sembilan government said it would ban new poultry farms in the state and set a deadline of Dec 31 for existing chicken breeders to operate closed farming systems to curb growing problems with flies.

 

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said drastic measures had to be taken as the state had been having massive problem with flies, The Star newspaper reported.  

 

The people cannot be made to suffer at the expense of others who profit from poultry farming, he said at a meeting of poultry growers.

 

Mohamad said the state had more than enough poultry farms and there was no need for more, adding that the flies problem had reached critical levels.

 

Mohamad said areas particularly hard-hit were Port Dickson, Rembau, Tampin and Seremban.

 

He said the state authorities would not entertain requests from poultry farmers to extend the deadline to move to the closed farming system. The three-year deadline ended last December, he said. Authorities cannot bend the rules as people have been suffering as a result of the open farming, he added.

 

Mohamad also told corporations which bought chicks from poultry farmers to ensure that the suppliers practised the closed farming method.

 

Eight out of every 10 poultry farmers have contracts with these large corporations who provide them with chicks and chicken feed, he said.

 

He said the state government had received complaints from residents and hotel operators in Port Dickson of the problem.

 

Since the state is working to promote the city as a premier tourist destination, it cannot afford to have serious flies infestation problems, he said, adding that the costs of the closed system was not prohibitive.

 

Mohamad said attempts by the state government to centralise poultry farming had met resistance from farmers, adding that the government was prepared to allocate between 60ha and 100ha of land for the purpose.