PAPAR, Sabah: The Sabah Meat Technology Centre yesterday launched its own brand name for its meat products known as Alapbana or ‘very good’ in Bajau, one of several ethnic groups in Sabah.State Department of Veterinary Services and Animal Industries’ director Datuk Awang Sahak Pg Salleh said the new brand was a step taken by the department to promote and supply halal, clean and fresh meat products in the state.
He said it was also an effort to reduce dependecy on imported meat, especially beef, by producing meat products based on international standards. “Under the 100-Breeder Transformation Programme, about 1,000 dairy cattle were reared yearly by breeders in rural areas,” said Awang Sahak.
“These cattle would then be taken care of by the Sebrang Livestock Breeding Station in Keningau, specifically for the production of high quality Alapbana beef products,” he said at the launch of the SMTC Butcher Shop-Beef Corner where the Alapbana products were being sold.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Yahya Hussin, who is also the State Agriculture and Food Industry Minister, officiated the ceremony. The 100-Breeder Transformation Programme was launched in 2005 where every beef and dairy cattle, buffalo, goat and deer farmers reared at least 100 breeds.
Later, Awang Sahak told reporters Sabah was nearly 30 per cent self-sufficent in the production of beef and had targeted 50 per cent self-sufficiency by 2015. “Right now we are importing 6,000 tonnes of beef yearly at a cost of RM48 million,” he said.
Yahya said the Butcher Shop was a good concept to demonstrate proper meat preparation to the public and hoped that more shops selling the Alapbana brand would be opened in all districts in Sabah. He also hoped restaurants and hotels would purchase Alapbana meat products from the Butcher Shop to ensure quality, cleanliness and freshness of food served to customers. — Bernama
