KUCHING, June 5 — The Sarawak government is mulling cooperating with oil palm estates for an integrated farming system to increase cattle population in the state with the goal of becoming a net exporter of beef.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu said Sarawak has over 400,000 hectares are suitable for cattle integration projects. But so far only about 80,000 hectares with about 10,500 cattles were being used for that purpose.
“To increase the cattle population, the Sarawak government would be focusing on the integrated farming system with oil palm plantations. The potential is there and I would like to work with oil palm estates,” Jabu told reporters after officiating at the First Asean Regional Conference on Animal Production (ARCAP) 2014 here today.
Jabu who is also the state Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture, said assuming that five hectares could support one adult cattle for one year, then the 400,000 hectares of oil palm plantations in Sarawak alone has the potential of supporting more than 80,000 heads of cattle.
“If all the oil palm plantations practice this integrated farming maybe Sarawak can even be a net exporter of beef,” he added.
Jabu added that the state’s agricultural waste and residue could provide an alternative supply for livestock feed.
He also advised farmers in the state to be more knowledgeable and keep abreast with the latest technologies and development of agricultural practices as consumers are becoming more selective, demand high quality and safer food.
From The Malay Mail Online.
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