By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, March 2: The State government is aiming to improve self-sufficiency in livestock production via privatisation on government stations which have been identified for the purpose, says Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
“Currently we only have about 12 per cent self-sufficiency in beef and the (remaining) 88 per cent (comes) mainly from Australia and New Zealand in livestock and we aim to make sure to improve to 50 per cent by the year 2030 or 150,000 heads (by the year 2030),” he revealed after witnessing the signing of a licence agreement between the government and Alam Bumijaya Sdn Bhd to develop livestock at the Karabungan Agriculture Station for commercial cattle production in Miri today.
To-date, Sarawak has a cattle population of 17,000 heads and buffalo population of 6,000 heads which contributes to the 12 per cent of the State’s self-suffiency in beef.
Dr Rundi added, the agreement reflected the State government’s commitment to increasing livestock supplies by making full use of whatever original initiatives to create agriculture stations for the purpose of commercial (livestock) farming.
“Today’s signing is to create Karabungan not only as a pilot project to produce quality cattle, but to fast track the demand in the industry,” he said, adding that Sarawak needed to be aggressive to fast track demand in this industry.
Today’s signing ceremony was between the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) and Alam Bumijaya Sdn Bhd.
According to Dr Rundi, apart from Karabungan in Miri, the government has also identified sites for two more agriculture stations for commercial livestock farming, namely Temudok station in Sri Aman for goat production and Maragang Station in Limbang for buffalo production.
The agreement signed today to privatize Karabungan in Miri for commercial livestock farming with the private sector came after Temudok in Sri Aman.
The tenure of the agreement is 20 years and can be extended for another 20 years.
In term of infrastructure facilities, Dr Rundi gave assurance that the government will assist by strengthening access from the agriculture station to the distribution areas.
Also present at the signing ceremony today were Deputy Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, director of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS) Dr Sajem Jinim and Alam Bumijaya Sdn Bhd managing director Loh Poh Hwa. — DayakDaily
