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RM12 mln approved for breeding, fattening centres

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Food Industry, Comodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom shows his ministry's winding up text speech. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

By LEE SHAW WEI, NATASHA JEE & MA CHEE SENG

THE Sarawak government has approved RM12 million for Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) to enhance the cattle–oil palm integration programme by establishing breeding and fattening centres.

Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom revealed that to date, SALCRA has established one cattle breeding and fattening centre at Serian while the construction of two other centres in Bau and Betong is expected to commence by the second quarter of 2023.

“These breeding and fattening centres will adopt the Integrated Semi-Intensive Rearing System, which is integrated with oil palm estates.

“The three projects are expected to be fully completed in early 2025 and targeted to produce more than 2,000 calves annually,” Rundi said.

Additionally, he added that to intensify the livestock industry in Sarawak, his Ministry has undertaken strategic initiatives including the privatisation of livestock stations.

“To date, three livestock stations have been privatised for commercial ruminant farming involving breeding and fattening purposes.

“The first livestock station that was privatised is Temudok Station, Sri Aman for commercial breeding of sheep and goats.

“This is followed by Karabungan Station, Miri and Maragang Station, Limbang for commercial production of cattle and buffalo respectively.

“The private firms that have been appointed as the operators for these stations are expected to begin the development of infrastructure and facilities works in early 2023,” Rundi said.

Meanwhile, to exploit the huge potential of the swine industry, the Sarawak Government has approved an allocation of RM27 million to establish two more Pig Farming Areas (PFA) at Selangau in Sibu Division and Samarakan in Bintulu Division.

“The site for Selangau PFA has been approved and it is at the final stage of acquiring the land while Samarakan PFA is at the preliminary planning stage.

“The supply of porkers in Sarawak is surplus and will continue to be exported mainly to Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan.

“The porkers that are being exported are from the certified MyGAP anchor farm at the Pig Farming Area (PFA) Pasir Puteh in Simunjan and pork products from our Veterinary Health Mark (VHM) accredited abattoir and processing plant also at Pasir Puteh, Simunjan.

“As of mid-November 2022, a total of 110,200 porkers with an estimated value of RM107.6 million were shipped to Singapore.

“Another 1,500 kilograms of pork are transported overland to Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan daily and this constitutes a yearly income of around RM13.5 million,” Rundi concluded.

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