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November 21, 2009 17:57 PM
Batang Lupar Has Potential To Become Sarawak's Beef Valley
PUSA (Sarawak), Nov 21 (Bernama) -- Batang Lupar has the potential to be turned into a major livestock breeding area for commercial purpose, Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim said.
Rohani said the ministry was planning to create a "target area concentration" for cattle breeding in Sarawak involving for a start 16 cow and 26 goat breeders from next month.
"I will also ask the ministry to consider creating a 'beef valley' programme in Batang Lupar," she told Bernama here on Saturday.
She said Sarawak and Sabah had the potential to venture into livestock breeding in a big way as the World Health Organisation had declared Borneo island to be free of foot and mouth disease.
She said that Sabah had shown progress in the sector.
Last year, Malaysia imported 103,000 tonnes of beef worth RM883.9 million and 18,000 tonnes of mutton worth RM188 million.
"At the moment, we only produce 25 per cent of the country's meat requirement even though we have the capacity to produce more," she said.
Meanwhile, Rohani said the ministry would discuss with the state government to consider gazetting Batang Lupar as a food production permanent park.
She said that Batang Lupar also had the potential to become a food production hub as it already had the Stumbin Bijat rice bowl.
"It is my wish to see the Lingga-Sebuyau-Beting Maro area to emerge into a golden triangle for food production not only for Sarawak but also for Malaysia," she said.
-- BERNAMA
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