By Jasmine Badun
THE government will focus on increasing private sector involvement in the ruminant livestock industry in Sarawak.
Deputy Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development I Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVS) has taken the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative to privatise cattle, buffalo and goat stations.
He said this in response to Dayang Noorazah Awang Sohor (GPS-Lingga) who had asked about plans to expand the poultry, cattle and goat industry commercially to increase food supply in Sarawak during the question and answer session at the DUN sitting on Monday (May 23).
According to him, Sarawak has reached a subsistence level of over 100 per cent in chicken meat, hence the government will help farmers to expand this industry for export purposes.
However, he added that the subsistence level for beef and mutton is still at a low level, at 12 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively.
“As of now, there are a total of two livestock stations that have been privatised, namely Temudok Station in Sri Aman for the production of quality goat breeds, while Karabungan Station in Miri is for the production of quality cattle breeds.
“My ministry has also planned to privatise the Meragang Station in Lawas for the production of quality buffaloes,” he added.
