KUCHING, May 25: Sarawak’s pork industry is a major income-generating industry for the state, with export earnings of over RM303.3 million for the period of 2018 to 2021.
State Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, said the domestic pork industry is well developed with the adoption of modern farming technologies.
“The anchor farmer in our Pig Farming Area (PFA) Simunjan has exported pork and porkers to Singapore since 2017 and between 2018 – 2021, it has exported over 286,000 porkers worth RM303.3 million.
“Recently, an average of 2,500 porkers are exported to Singapore on a twice weekly basis,” he revealed in his ministerial winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Wednesday.
Due to this, Rundi said the government has allocated RM30 million to develop another three new modern PFA in Selangau in Sibu Division, Samarakan in Bintulu Division and an extension to PFA Simunjan.
“My ministry will continue to encourage and facilitate the participation of private sector to develop the swine industry towards achieving an increased volume for exports of live pigs and pork products,” he said.
He noted that the industry is badly affected by the African Swine Fever (ASF) that was first reported in Sarawak in Limbang on 14th July 2021, with 15,028 domesticated and commercial pigs culled.
“This first index case in Sarawak was due to the poor biosecurity and hygiene of the pig farms and the farmers themselves,” said Rundi.
Swift action and measures taken by the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) managed to prevent the spread of ASF to Kuching, Serian and Samarahan, where 75% of the commercial pork production in Sarawak is located.
In his reply to Padungan assemblyman, Chong Chieng Jen, on the increasing pork prices in the domestic market, Rundi said his ministry is intensifying efforts to address the matter.
“We are planning to develop a livestock board that will manage the matter and we will look into how to maintain the affordability,” he said, adding that Sarawak is self-sufficient in pork with 125% self-sufficiency level (SSL). – TVS
