RIYADH – The Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture has completed preparations to launch a program that aims to transfer chicken feed nutrients subsidy directly to all poultry projects in the Kingdom, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday quoting the ministry.

The move is part of the ministry’s strategic plan to improve efficiency and increase productivity in order to enhance food security and encourage poultry sector growth with an aim to meet 60 percent of the local market demand for broiler chicken and 100 percent of table eggs.

As part of the program, the financial support to licensed poultry projects will be provided depending on the type of product and the subsidy payment method will be different from the previous one.

The payment is scheduled to begin by the end of January 2020. Expressing confidence, the ministry said that the program would help the beneficiaries get the government subsidy directly, which in turn will enhance production efficiency and improve local product quality.

The move will also contribute to stabilizing poultry prices for the final consumer, achieve professionalism in the sector and contribute to employment.

The proposed step is part of the program for redirecting agricultural subsidies, which was launched in October 2019.

However, the new procedure involves payment of the subsidies by transferring government support directly to bank accounts of the beneficiaries. – SPA