'This is all we know': Farmer fears 40-year-old poultry business may end

Desmond, a farmer who inherited two poultry farms from his father, faces a potential end to a family business dating back 40 years. Earlier this year, the farms in Kuala Langat, housing around 200,000 birds, were shut down due to fly infestation complaints from local residents. Authorities instructed the farms to clean up the area, after which they were allowed to reopen after inspection.

Desmond acknowledges that flies are a nuisance but finds them challenging to control, as they are drawn to chicken farms, move between farms, and reproduce rapidly. He notes that flies have always been present, but the expansion of residential areas has exacerbated the issue. Desmond explains that managing flies at poultry farms, particularly open farms like his, is possible through traps, pesticides, and proper sanitation, albeit a time-consuming process.

The Veterinary Services Department provided guidance, but the results are not immediate. The bigger concern, according to Desmond, is a deadline set by local authorities for him to convert his open farms to closed-house systems. Recently, when they met the authorities, they were informed that a license for an open farm would not be granted in two and a half years. The cost of raising a bird in a closed-house system is around RM60, amounting to approximately RM12 million, excluding land costs.

Desmond emphasizes that he and his family are cooperating with authorities when complaints arise, but they plead for more time and flexibility. He points out that taking multi-million-ringgit risks might not be feasible for many poultry farmers. He suggests that the authorities should provide farms more room and make closed-house requirements mandatory for new applicants.