KUCHING, May 11: Indonesia is willing to continue cooperation to help improve Sarawak food security via livestock sub-sector development.
According to Ministry of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development (MFICORD) in a statement today, during a ministry delegation’s recent work visit to Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia, they also discussed the development of the livestock sector between Sarawak and Indonesia, such as the transfer of livestock technology and trade facilitation which is subject to the latest risk factors.
“Among other topics discussed was to establish direct cooperation between Sarawak and Indonesia to combat the spread of animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease, African Swine Fever (ASF), avian influenza (AI) and rabies.
“This is considering that the rabies and ASF epidemics in particular have spread in Sarawak and in several provinces of Kalimantan, Indonesia in addition to the AI epidemic that have spread in Indonesia.
“This meeting has provided an opportunity for both parties to exchange information regarding the control of livestock disease outbreaks as well as how both parties can work together directly in biosecurity management,” it said.
The work visit, which was held from May 4 to 9, was led by Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom together with ministry advisor Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom and deputy ministers Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and Martin Ben.
The delegation visited Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB Universiti Bogor), Balai Embrio Ternak and Balai Artificial Inssemination Cipelang in Bogor, as well as the largest manufacturer of vaccines, medicines and livestock equipment in Southeast Asia, Syarikat PT Medion in Bandung. — DayakDaily
