The implementation of a large-scale chicken farming project in Kampung Tanjung Seratus, Kuala Rompin, in which the government is allocating RM60 million, is not only expected to boost the economy of the local community but also secure the country’s food supply.
Felcra Area Participant Leader Anak Endau Sulaiman Mustapha, 75, described the project as ‘two-pronged” as it will not only benefit the community, especially by creating jobs for young people but can also promote the development of Rompin.
“The government’s move to implement a major project here is eagerly awaited because it shows that even though Rompin is a big town, the government has not forgotten about economic projects to assist residents.
“Most of the residents here work as farmers, padi growers and fishermen. So it is inevitable that some of them will venture into poultry farming eventually,” he said when met by Bernama recently.
Sulaiman said the mega livestock project will also indirectly help Malaysians get chicken at a cheaper price and reduce chicken imports.
A young Orang Asli, Pallmallsa Saleh, 27, agrees with Sulaiman, sees the government’s initiative through the project as an opportunity for youth to get into livestock farming.
“I am working in an oil palm plantation here. After that, my friends and I will try to work on this project to increase our income and additionally learn farming methods, because so far we have only raised chickens for our consumption.
“This is also an opportunity for us to interact with communities other than the Orang Asli themselves, which indirectly helps us to increase our self-confidence,” he said, who lives here in Kampung Belangkap.
A Kampung Bahagia resident, Rohayu Ab Razak, 49, said the project also opens up opportunities for women to run small food shops near the project.
According to the mother of nine, locals should take full advantage of this opportunity to earn an income without having to migrate to the big cities or other districts.
Meanwhile, FELCRA Food Industries Sdn Bhd (FFISB) general manager Dr Mohamad Shafie M Lojong disclosed that the project, which was launched in August last year and involves the construction of 10 coops on 20.6-hectare site and is expected to be fully completed by February next year.
According to him, the construction of the first coop is 31 per cent complete and is expected to be operational next month with the arrival of the first batch of 30,000 chickens.
He said that once completed, the project will be able to produce five rounds of chickens per year which is 300,000 chickens for one round or 1.5 million chickens per year.
The large livestock project in Rompin is one of the four mega chicken projects Felcra Berhad is implementing in rural areas, besides Sungai Damak, Lipis in Pahang; Padang Terap, Kedah and Paloh 4 Gua Musang, Kelantan.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency