KUCHING: The proposal to set ceiling price for pork to stabilise and prevent further price hikes can only resolve the issue temporarily.
Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said in order to resolve the price hike, which was due primarily to supply shortage; the state government should allow more traders to import pork.
“The price control proposed by the state government can only resolve the price hike problem in short term but it will not resolve the supply shortage issue,” he said in a statement today (Jan 4).
According to the Stampin MP, about 90 per cent of pig farms in Sarawak were affected by the African Swine Fever.
Thus, he said it was high time for the Sarawak government to embark upon a programme to encourage more affected pig farmers to adopt new and modern farming methods.
“This will involve more government grants and soft loans to be given out to assist the farmers to upgrade their facilities and farms,” he said after meeting Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Chan Foong Hin to discuss the issue of increasing pork price and the future of the pig farming industry in Sarawak.
Chong, who is also the Kota Sentosa assemblyman hoped that there will be proper planning and cooperation between the federal and state governments, to ensure the industry can revive from the ASF outbreak and take a leap to a higher level of modern farming.
He said the pork price has gone up several times since last year which was due to shortage despite the assurance by Sarawak Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi on Nov 11, last year that the supply of pork in the state was in surplus.
