END OF YEAR DEADLINE FOR POUTRY FARMERS TO CONVERT TO CLOSED HOUSES IN NEGERI SEMBILAN NOT VIABLE UNDER THE PRESENT SITUATION 森美兰养鸡农场被限期年底之前改换成封闭式鸡舍一事在现有情况下不可行

With reference to the news report in the mass media on the deadline given by the Negeri Sembilan state government for poultry farmers to convert their poultry houses to the closed house system, the Federation of Livestock Farmers’ Associations of Malaysia (FLFAM) would like to reiterate that while it agrees that the closed house system has been proven to be an efficient and effective farming system in terms of productivity it has to state that it is not the only solution to solve the fly infestation problem.

In the first place we do not believe that the infestation problem is solely caused by poultry farm operations. As is well known to everyone flies breed wherever there is organic matter available. The health regulation states that only when the presence of maggots, the intermediate stage in the fly life cycle, is proven on the farm is an offense committed. As far as we know not many farms have been found guilty of this offense. We hope that the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) would study this matter. On the other hand we should be aware that illegal dumping of organic and other kinds of waste is reported as an almost daily occurrence.

The poultry industry in the state is having difficulty complying with the order to convert to closed houses due a number of reasons: –

· With the regular occurrence of the bird flu infection the financial status of poultry farming has a low standing in the eyes of the financial institutions;

· The increasing cost of production due to global competition for feed grains being used as bio-fuel and a ceiling price being imposed year round for broilers means the financial position of poultry farm companies are very poor. The farmers are currently selling their chickens at below their cost of production;

· Even if soft fund are available the current financial status of these farms make them ineligible even, for example, the 3F Funds as the conversion costs are very high and there is not enough cash flow of the operation to cover the loan commitment;

The FLFAM would like to propose that the DVS undertakes a thorough study of the whole matter particularly whether the farms are really contributing to the flies menace, what it cost to covert the farms to a closed house operation and the impact on the cost of supply of chickens which have now become an expensive commodity worldwide.

While the farmers have a duty to ensure their effort at supplying locally produced protein food is done in an environment friendly manner it should not be forced to embark on a costly and perhaps unjustified undertaking that requires large capital expenditures.

With the current escalating cost of production of all kinds of food it is the consumers that will suffer if a shortage of supply were to occur as a result of the action taken by the Negeri Sembilan state government. (1-10-2007)

森美兰养鸡农场被限期年底之前改换成封闭式鸡舍一事在现有情况下不可行

有关传媒报导森美兰州政府限期养鸡农场年底之前改换成封闭式养鸡系统，马来西亚禽畜业联合总会欲强调说，虽然我们同意封闭式养鸡系统经被证实在生产力方面具效率并且是一个有效的畜养系统，但必须说的是它并非是唯一的一个解决苍蝇横飞问题的方法。

首先，我们并不相信苍蝇骚扰的问题纯粹由养鸡场作业造成。众所周知，苍蝇会在任何有有机物质的地方滋生。根据卫生条例，只有当蛆虫出现，即在苍蝇生命周期的中期，才证明是犯下罪行。据我们所知，并无多少农场在这方面罪名成立。我们希望兽医局研究此事。另一方面，我们也应知道那些非法倾倒有机垃圾及其他垃圾的行为据报每天发生。

森美兰州内养鸡农场面对州政府要他们改换成封闭式鸡舍的指令有困难，原因如下：-

* 由于禽流感的不时发生，造成家禽农场面对金融机构融资的困难；

* 由于全球性的谷物价格暴涨造成生产成本日益大幅度增加，加上肉鸡常年统制价的实施，使到肉鸡农场的财务状况受到影响。目前农友是在成本之下出售肉鸡；

* 即使有低息贷款便利，比如说，食品贷款基金，这些肉鸡农场的财务状况也使到他们失去贷款的资格，，业者无法有充足的现金流通应付贷款的要求。

本会建议兽医局进行一个全面研究，弄清农场究竟是否是苍蝇问题的祸首，以及将现有农场鸡舍改建封闭式鸡舍的成本，还有它对肉鸡这个现在在全球已经变成昂贵食品，它的生产成本的影响。

当农民有责任确保本地生产蛋白质食品是在对环保友善的情况下进行的时候，不应该逼使他们投入成本昂贵且没有理由的承诺。

当前各种食品生产成本剧增，如果森美兰州政府的行动导致发生供应短缺，消费人将遭殃。

1-10-2007