BANGI: The Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda) recorded sales of 413 sacrificial cows worth RM2.07mil this year, chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif announced.
He said the sales, made through Risda subsidiary, Risda Livestock Sdn Bhd (RLSB), showed an increase of 85 per cent from last year’s.
"Last year, we only achieved about 10 to 15 per cent of that sales following the MCO (movement control order) imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"This year, we received rather high demand especially as we entered the transition to endemic phase where most activities have been allowed,” he said after attending Korban Risda 2022 programme here on Tuesday (July 12).
RLSB was established in 1999 to manage integrated farming and cattle breeding at Risda oil palm plantations and to market high-quality halal local beef.
Mohd Salim said RLSB was now able to produce 6,000 cows a year through feedlot rearing in 10 oil palm plantations measuring 47,000 hectares across the country.
He said the number would be increased to 10,000 cows to meet the demands for high-quality local beef.
"Risda also aims to become a leader in halal beef production through strategic partnerships with several companies, such as Koperasi Pos Nasional Bhd, Protaz International Sdn Bhd and Mamu Livestock Sdn Bhd,” he said.
On the Korban Risda 2022 programme, he said 12 cows were sacrificed in conjunction with Aidiladha, involving the participation of 87 Risda staff, and the meat was distributed to asnaf families, orphanages and tahfiz schools.
He said Risda management also allocated RM13,000 to be distributed to selected asnaf families in 13 states.
Risda was established on Jan 1, 1973, under the Ministry of Rural Development to play various roles in empowering rubber smallholders in the country.- Bernama
