Agriculture and food industries minister Ronald Kiandee said 400 companies participated in AiVAC, which is one of the proactive measures to ensure the continuity of the country’s food supply chain.

“So far, 10,000 workers have been partially vaccinated under AiVAC. The remaining 7,000 workers will be vaccinated by Sept 27,” he told reporters after visiting the AiVAC operations at the Kampung Raja multipurpose hall here today.

Kiandee also visited the pesticide-free vegetable farm run by Syarikat Greenheart Farms Sdn Bhd in Lojing, run through an integrated pest management system, and said such enterprises were essential to boost Malaysia’s food production.

On the matter of chicken prices, Kiandee said a special body must be set up to monitor and address the issue of rising prices in the local market.

Towards this end, Bernama said Kiandee would hold a comprehensive discussion with the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry (KPDNHEP) to tackle the problem in an effective and systematic manner.

“This special body will be more focused on matters which are under the jurisdiction of KPDNHEP as it is the ministry that acts on price increases.

“As far as my ministry is concerned, we are open to discussions because our stand is that the cost of production of chicken feed borne by the industry and the cost of chicken imposed on the public must be proportionate.”

Yesterday, domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said discussions with the agriculture and food industries ministry should be held continuously to address the problem of the rising cost of animal feed which has been brought up by farmers.

He stressed that the discussions targeted the high cost of livestock feed, including imported chicken feed, prices of chicken breeds and chicks. These affected the price of chicken at the consumer level.