Dr. TanDY
Joined: 02 Nov 2005
Posts: 1345
Location: Selangor, Malaysia
|
| Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 12:19 am Post subject: [News]Malaysia May Plant Corn As Livestock Feed In Indonesia |
|
|
Malaysia May Plant Corn As Livestock Feed In Indonesia
By Mohd Nasir Yusoff
JAKARTA, May 22 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is studying the feasibility of planting corn as livestock feed for the Malaysian poultry industry in Gorontalo, Indonesia and collaborating in the breeding of Bali cattle.
The Goronalo Province in Sulawesi, Indonesia is offering poultry companies in Malaysia a 10,000 hectare site for the corn plantation, said the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
He said although the project seemed cost effective since Malaysia was importing more than three million tonnes of livestock feed yearly and the low cost of labour in Indonesia, a study on its feasibility had to be carried out first.
"Our soil is only suitable for the planting of corn for human consumption but not corn for livestock feed. The project could meet our needs," he said. If the project is feasible, the livestock feed will be processed in Goronalo before being shipped to Malaysia, he told Malaysian reporters, here Monday.
Gorontalo Governor Fadil Muhammad himself made the offer to Muhyiddin during their meeting at the Asia Pacific Food and Agriculture Organisation Conference here last week.
Muhyiddin said he would meet Malaysian poultry breeders when he return, home Tuesday to discuss the offer which would be on lease term.
He also held discussions with his Indonesian counterpart Anton Apriantono on collaboration in producing Bali cattle, the best in the republic.
He said Malaysia was keen to import the cattle but Indonesia banned its export.
However, he said, a Malaysian entrepreneur had reared the Bali cattle in south Sulawesi.
He said Indonesian breeders in Riau, Sumatra which is closer to Malaysia were also keen on collaboration to expand their production of Bali cattle with Malaysian farmers.
"If Indonesia relaxes the regulation, Malaysia is keen to invest in the breeding of the Bali cattle with the Malaysian or the Indonesian entrepreneurs," he said, adding that, currently Malaysia was importing cattle from Australia and New Zealand which were more expensive.
-- BERNAMA |
|
