The Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Minister said the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute had conducted research that found farmers could produce over eight tonnes per hectare, making it viable to produce corn as livestock feed.

"We will have greater food security if we can plant corn as feed," he said.

Though Malaysia’s poultry production exceeded 100 percent of domestic needs, Sim pointed out that 60 percent of poultry feed ingredients were imported and this exposes poultry farmers to global risks.

For decades, Mr Sim said, Malaysia imported corn as a feed ingredient from countries like the United States and Brazil but now "the price has increased so much that there is a need for us to plant our own corn."

He added that there was a potential for states with vast expanses of flat terrain such as Kedah, Johor and Perak to reap profits from corn production because of the high demand.

Source: The Star Online