KUCHING: Sarawak needs to boost its ruminant livestock sector to reach a self-sufficiency level of 25% for beef and mutton by 2030, the state assembly was told.
State Deputy Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said the self-sufficiency level presently stood at 15%.
"To achieve the target, the ruminant livestock population needs to be increased to 158,750, comprising 60,000 cattle, 20,000 buffaloes and 78,750 goats and sheep," he told Miro Simuh (GPS-Serembu) during question time on Thursday (Nov 14).
Dr Abdul Rahman said the state's ruminant livestock population numbered 35,000 this year compared to 32,000 last year.
He said his ministry was allocated RM40mil under the 12th Malaysia Plan to implement ruminant livestock programmes, including providing high-quality breeds from Australia to farmers.
"This year, 650 cattle, 300 buffaloes and 490 sheep were received by 23 farmers," he said.
Dr Abdul Rahman also said the ministry planned to set up a ruminant biotechnology centre in Simunjan to improve local breeds.
He said RM2mil had been allocated for the centre's initial development. The centre will conduct research on genetics and the use of technology in breeding.
"The ministry also plans to set up the Sarawak Livestock Development Board to coordinate the ruminant livestock industry in the state," he added.
