By Ling Hui
KUCHING, Nov 9: Mozzarella cheese from buffalo milk has been identified as another potential product from buffalo farming in Sarawak other than meat-based products.
Assistant Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Haji Ismail said the state government is looking into diversifying buffalo-based products and this was one of their findings.
“The state government has identified another potential product from buffalo farming, which is cheese based on the milk of buffalo, also known as mozzarella cheese, to be developed in Sarawak.
“A local company in Lawas has already shown its interest in leading the development of this industry producing this kind of cheese,” he said.
He added in order to ensure sustainability of the downstream buffalo industry, the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS Sarawak) also has plans to further increase the buffalo population in northern Sarawak.
“One of the initiatives is to further develop the buffalo station in Meragang, Lawas as a buffalo research and breeding centre under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12).
“This station will also later be used as a collection, processing and packaging centre for the products downstream,” revealed Dr Abdul Rahman during the question-and-answer session at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.
He was responding to Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Palu Gumbang, who asked about the state government’s intention on encouraging buffalo farming for other products aside from only producing meat-based products. — DayakDaily
