By Dayangku Hidayatul
SERIAN, March 6: Eco Farm Solutions Sdn Bhd is expanding its fresh milk production to 5,000 litres daily, strengthening Sarawak’s dairy industry as the first and only local farm supplying fresh milk to the Kuching and Serian markets.
Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said it represents an important step in strengthening the State’s local dairy sector.
“I want to congratulate Eco Farm. At the moment, this is the only flagship dairy farm in Sarawak operating a closed production concept and producing fresh milk locally.
“Fresh milk is better than many formulated milk products in the market. The challenge is that people are still not used to consuming fresh milk due to limited awareness,” he told reporters during his visit to the farm at Kampung Panchor Cina here today.
He added that government agencies are exploring ways to encourage fresh milk consumption, including through school programmes.
Meanwhile, Eco Farm director Ng Yi Xin said the farm was started by her late father and has grown steadily over the years.
She said the farm aims to make fresh milk more accessible and affordable for the public.
“People often see fresh milk as something expensive or exclusive. But we want to make it affordable so it becomes a staple for everyone, including children of all ages,” she said.
Currently, the farm houses about 300 cattle, with another 190 calves expected to be born in the coming months.
By the end of September, Ng said the farm is projected to have around 490 animals, including about 230 milking cows.
“At the moment, we produce about 600 litres of milk per day. Once more cows start calving, we expect production to increase significantly,” she said.
The farm is targeting up to 5,000 litres of milk daily by September, which would allow the company to expand supply and potentially reduce production costs.
Ng said the farm’s fresh milk is sold at several supermarkets in Kuching and Serian, while logistics and consumer demand continue to pose challenges for expansion across Sarawak.
Dr Rundi also highlighted the farm’s strong hygiene and management standards, noting they are comparable to modern dairy farms overseas.
“I wish them all the best. Please continue your good efforts, and we will continue to support you,” he added. — DayakDaily
