In a series of news reports, DayakDaily has obtained views from Green Breeders Sdn Bhd director and veterinarian Dr Ng Siew Thiam on Sarawak’s pork industry.
By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, April 27: Green Breeders Sdn Bhd director Dr Ng Siew Thiam believes that Sarawak’s pork industry can flourish in the next seven to eight years, provided that the proper infrastructure and facilities for pig breeding are in place and efficiently controlled while adhering to government policy.
As a prominent pig breeder and pork supplier, Ng also hoped for a vaccine for African Swine Fever (ASF), adding that the government must be stringent with industry players in tackling the disease.
He reiterated that if all these (facilities, policies, vaccines, and systems) are in place, then the industry can be more sustainable and sufficient.
“Only then can we produce more pork, generate healthy competition, and meet demand, which leads to lower prices—the industry will be more stable,” he said to DayakDaily.
Ng, who is also a veterinarian, shared that countries like China have a system that could prevent the disease from spreading and ensure that pig breeding could be carried out.
“The government must have such a policy and efficient control on this matter, as here we are a small industry in comparison to China.
“The government could do surveillance work and monitor the abattoir. If they discovered ASF and sick animals from an individual farm, they could stop it and eradicate the disease without further spreading. That is one way to tackle the spread of ASF.”
Ng revealed that in Kuching and the surrounding areas, there are around 20 breeders and approximately 50 Statewide, but the numbers could increase once the infrastructure, facilities, and policies are in place.
“I am optimistic industry players will come back in the not-too-distant future as this would be good for local consumers so as not to rely on the import market and to ensure our pork industry has a lucrative future,” he said. — DayakDaily
