Those who are wishing that the government step in and do something about it, well, there's big disappointment coming your way.

Main causes for increase

The Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry has said that the government is powerless to stop the increase in chicken prices due to the rising cost of animal feed, Bernama reported.

Its minister, Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, told the news agency that the increase in the costs of imported chicken feed is among one of the main causes of the increase in the price of chicken in the country recently.

According to reports, the prices of soya and corn meal, which were mostly imported from Brazil and Argentina, have increased recently.

And here's the bad news: the government can't do anything aboout that because the country heavily relies on imported chicken feed.

"We don't produce enough corn to use as animal feed. If it is imported, we can't control the price," he was quoted as saying.

However, Kiandee said that the Ministry has had discussions with with major chicken farm owners in the country and the the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industries (MAFI) to implement a fixed price for standard chicken.

Through the 2021 Aidilfitri Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP), which would begin today (21 April), the standard price of chicken will be fixed at RM7.90.

The scheme will also control the prices of 12 items in four categories, namely, chicken, chicken egg, meat and sea produce.