KUCHING: Sarawak has successfully increased the self-sufficiency level for fresh milk from merely 1 percent in 2016 to the current 25 percent.
Minister of Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said this is largely due to the establishment of a private modern dairy farm in 2016 at Kampung Panchor, Serian with a dairy cattle population of 250 heads of milking cow.
“On development of beef and dairy products, currently, the self-sufficiency level (SSL) for beef and mutton is 12 percent and 5.5 percent respectively.
“The population of cattle and buffalo in Sarawak is estimated at about 17,000 and 7,300 heads respectively while the population for goat and sheep is 14,000 heads,” he said.
He said this in his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (Nov 30).
Among the various initiatives that have been implemented by his ministry through the Department of Veterinary Services Sarawak (DVSS), Rundi said, this include distributing cattle to oil palm plantations and smallholders under Pawah Scheme as well as under the Sale of Livestock (SOL) programme.
“In 2022, about 507 heads of cattle and 241 heads of buffaloes were imported from Australia to support the implementation of this programme,” he said.
He also said cattle integration under oil palm which has been implemented since May 2000 will be continued to optimise the utilisation of the oil palm estates available in Sarawak.
“There are around 1.6 million hectares of oil palm estates in Sarawak. At present, only about 100,000 hectares out of more than 600,000 hectares that are suitable for cattle integration have been utilised. The suitable oil palm land can accommodate 150,000 heads of cattle,” he said.
Under the Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 aspiration, Rundi said his ministry has set a target of 25 percent SSL for beef and mutton to be achieved by 2030.
“To achieve this target, a standing population of around 60,000 heads of beef cattle and 20,000 heads of buffalo and 215,000 heads of sheep and goats are required,” he said.
