Malaysian govt explores use of black soldier flies in chicken feed, mulls law on fertilisers

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian government is exploring the use of black soldier flies in chicken feed as part of its efforts to reduce dependency on imports and strengthen food security in the country.

Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu said the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, in collaboration with the Malaysian Productivity Corporation, is carrying out a study on an alternative source for chicken feed as a long-term measure to address the rising costs in food production.

Another long-term measure, he said, involved reducing dependency on imports of grain corn, one of the feeds' components, by 30 per cent through grain corn farming on 80,000ha of land nationwide.

He said the ministry has targeted 1.44 million metric tonnes in local grain corn production by 2032.

"(The ministry is also) carrying out a study to produce alternative raw ingredient derived from Palm Kernel Expeller and Palm Kernel Cake," he said in a parliamentary written reply to a question from Betong Member of Parliament Richard Rapu on Wednesday (Feb 22).

In supporting the sector, Mr Mohamad said, a total RM300 million (S$90.3 million) in loans were also offered through Agrobank's Agrofood Financing to assist chicken farmers whose capital was affected by the rising production costs.

"The ministry is carrying out several short and long-term measures to address rising feed costs in meat chicken and egg production, namely, subsidies for (affected) farmers.

"As of Feb 14, a total of 18,880 applications for subsidies for chicken meat and egg producers worth RM1.69 billion have been approved."

Meanwhile, Mr Mohamad said the ministry was studying a proposal to set up a fertiliser body through the creation of a law.

"The setting up of the body and Bill that is being drawn up will (oversee) the industry and ensure fertilisers imported, exported, manufactured and sold in the country are quality-assured and safe to use," he said.

"The Bill is now being reviewed by the Attorney-General's Chambers and will be brought to the cabinet for due consideration before being tabled in the Dewan (Rakyat)," he said in a written reply to a question from Puncak Borneo MP Willie Anak Mongin. NEW STRAITS TIMES