MARDI TO EXPAND AYAM SAGA PRODUCTION TO MEET MARKET DEMAND

ROMPIN, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) will expand the production of ayam saga to meet its growing demand, said Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

He said the ayam saga, a local chicken breed, has strong market potential, and since 2021, about 1.3 million birds have been produced, with MARDI continuing various initiatives under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to boost production.

“Among the efforts being implemented is the distribution of ayam saga chicks to interested breeders, in addition to enabling them to purchase the birds from parent stock farms,” he told a press conference after a working visit and a meeting at MARDI Muadzam Shah here today.

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He added that the ayam saga farming programme will also be introduced on Pulau Tioman in the near future, aimed at helping fishermen generate income during the monsoon season by venturing into poultry farming.

Mohamad said the effort would not only strengthen the country’s free-range chicken industry but also support the national food security agenda through the utilisation of local genetic resources.

To date, seven breeding farms and strategic partners across five main zones have been identified and involved in the production and performance evaluation of the ayam saga, located in Selangor, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and Sarawak.

The ayam saga is a free-range chicken breed developed by MARDI through long-term research since 2008, using entirely local genetic resources without any crossbreeding with foreign breeds.

The breed is hardy and suitable for breeding under various production systems, including semi-intensive, free-range and integrated farming in oil palm, rubber and fruit plantations, with its market price estimated at between RM15 and RM25 per kilogramme.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), in a statement, said one of the decisions made at today’s meeting was to strengthen the country’s coconut seed industry, with the Department of Agriculture targeting a 100 per cent self-sufficiency rate (SSR) by 2035.

In addition, the National Seed Council has decided to implement domestic production of bawal emas fry as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s aquaculture industry, through collaboration between the Department of Fisheries and strategic partners.

-- BERNAMA