‘Ketum ayam’ can be used as livestock feed, says Lingga rep

THE state government is urged to adopt a more aggressive and systematic approach to ensure a sustainable and resilient food supply for the people.

While she lauded the proposed 2023 State Budget, Dayang Noorazah Awang Soho (GPSLingga) said that large-scale cultivation of ketum ayam or mandre de agua leaves for use as chicken and livestock feed could be one of answers to the current food supply chain problem.

“Since the outbreak of Covid-19 in 2020, the country is still in economic recovery mode. Compounded with the disruption of livestock feed supply, this has, had us facing another challenge which is the increased price for chicken, beef and other meat products. Therefore, I would suggest to the state government to consider commercialising alternative food crops for livestock, for example, the cultivation of ‘mandre de agua’ leaves or better known as chicken ketum leaves,” she said at the State Legislative Assembly yesterday.

Extolling the virtues of ketum ayam as chicken feed, Dayang Noorazah said the fast-growing trees could help to offset the current shortage problem.

According to her, the founder of Changloon Agro Farm in Changlun, Kedah, Azuwan Azlan, had proven that the commercialisation of the leaves could help mitigate chicken production.