14,000 breeders may go bankrupt

JAKARTA: Some 14,000 poultry breeders in Tasikmalaya and Ciamis regencies in West Java province could go bankrupt if the government fails to ban the importation of chicken legs from the United States, a businessman said on Friday.

"The negative impact of importing chicken legs from the U.S. will be felt not only by the breeders, but their thousands of employees as well," the head of the Association of Chicken Breeders (PPAN), Heri Dermawan, said as quoted by Antara in Tasikmalaya.

"Imagine, if one breeder employs at least five people, then some 70,000 employees will lose their jobs," Dermawan said.

He called on the government to consider the importation of chicken legs from the U.S. seriously before the move "ruins the domestic market". -- JP