MIRI: Privatisation in commercial livestock production by utilising government station land will boost Sarawak’s self-sufficiency in beef by 2030.
Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the state had identified some agriculture station lands for the purpose.
“Currently we only have about 12 per cent self-sufficiency in beef and rely on Australia and New Zealand for the remaining 88 per cent; we intend to improve it to 50 per cent self-reliance by the year 2030 or 150,00 heads,” he said after witnessing the inking of an agreement between the Department of Veterinary Services and Alam Bumijaya Sdn Bhd to develop livestock in Karabungan Agriculture Station for commercial cattle production in Miri today.
To date, Sarawak has a cattle population of 17,000 heads and a buffalo population of 6,000 heads which contributed to 12 per cent of the state’s self-sufficiency level for beef.
He said the agreement reflected the state government’s commitment to increase livestock supplies by making full use of whatever original initiatives to create its agriculture station land for the purpose of commercial (livestock) farming.
“Today’s signing agreement is to create Karabungan not only as a pilot project to produce quality cattle, but, to fast-track demand in the industry,” he said.
“We need to be aggressive to fast-track demand in this industry … that is our projection,” he asserted.
According to Rundi, apart from Karabungan (in Miri for cattle productions), the government had also identified two other agriculture stations for commercial livestock farming, namely Temudok station in Sri Aman for goat production and Maragang station in Limbang for buffalo production.
On infrastructure facilities, Rundi assured that the government would assist by strengthening the access from the agriculture stations to the distribution areas.
On another note, Rundi said the state’s land border would be further strengthened to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (SFV), including monitoring illegal routes to detect livestock movements.
Rundi said precautionary actions were crucial to ensure the safety of the state’s livestock industry.
“To prevent and detect movements, we have to screen all livestock coming in because some pork is being brought in through illegal channels into the state,” he said.
Rundi gave his assurance that the government would be closely monitoring the movements.
“Media representatives played an important part in helping the government in managing the outbreak by disseminating facts about the disease to the public and to ensure that they stay vigilant.
“At the same time, officers at the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) must also continue disseminating information about the ASF to the public so that they know about the disease,” he said.
Also present at the signing ceremony were Deputy Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, director of Veterinary Services Sarawak Dr Sajem Jinim and Alam Bumijaya Sdn Bhd managing director Loh Poh Hwa.
