SIBU: Black Soldier Fly (BSF) has been identified as an alternative animal feed to ease food security issues that should be further expanded.
Minister of Food Industry, Commodities and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said BSF farming is able to reduce the amount of livestock breeders importing raw materials such as grain, corn, and others.
He noted that due to the livestock breeders’ dependency on raw materials from foreign countries, it has resulted in the high market price of chicken, pigs, and more.
“We have a lot of issues with overreliance on imports of animal feed and others. Hence, we were tasked by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to create animal feed from waste and oil palm.
“Now, maybe we need the BSF combination to add on protein, amino acids, and so on (into the animal feed) so that we are able to supply, and I think we have a great future (through BSF farming),” he said when met by reporters after visiting the Mega BSF Factory in Rantau Panjang here yesterday (Feb 17).
BSF farming is impressive in its growth rate and versatility when it comes to feedstock, as it can consume a variety of organic materials and mature in as little as two weeks — a relatively short amount of time in comparison to other farming processes.
Their accelerated growth cycle makes them ideal organisms for mass production as well as efficient use of space and resources.
According to the Kemena assemblyman, the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Salcra) is in a position to expand BSF farming and make it big in the future.
“So, we have a great and bright future trying to reduce the import of animal feed for Sarawak, and that is our aim,” he said.
When prompted on challenges to further expand BSF farming throughout the state, Dr Rundi noted that there are two main challenges, namely, the technologies and the entrepreneurs who will be willing to venture into BSF farming industries.
“We are thankful that we have one here (the Mega BSF Factory); perhaps in every division we can create a few more so that, in terms of logistics, we can reduce the price.
“Also, I think for the young ones, the graduates, you will notice that they will be more motivated when they see the return in goods, and of course from there, they can move to other corps where they can use all this so-called fertiliser.
“So, the challenge is to change people’s minds to realise the dream of the agriculture sector in Sarawak. Someone has proven it can be done, so the rest will follow suit,” he said.
