KUALA LUMPUR, June 5- Producing animal feed, eliminating middlemen in marketing products and developing idle land are Farmers Organisation Authority’s (LPP) three main missions which will be implemented by year end.
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (photo) said the three targets were important in helping those involved in the agricultural industry to increase productivity and reduce cost.
He said the high cost in importing animal feed were among major problems faced by local farmers.
“We will produce our own animal feed through National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) in collaboration with Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (Mardi) and overseas companies by supplying the main raw materials of corn and soybean,” he told reporters after briefing session with LPP members here, today.
Ismail Sabri said Malaysia requires five million tonnes of animal feed per year and almost 100 per cent is imported from foreign countries.
He added Nafas had taken steps to identify the raw materials source supply as well as the plant site which expected to start production in July.
LPP and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) will work together to ensure the marketing of agricultural products could be done without going through the middlemen.
“This is to ensure that the products reach consumers without oppressing the farmers and consumers like what is happening,” he said.
LPP is also gathering data on the status of idle land throughout the country for agricultural cultivation.
– BERNAMA
