SIBURAN: The Sarawak Government has set a target of producing 60,000 head of cattle by 2030 as part of efforts to enhance the state’s food self-sufficiency level (SSL) and establish a sustainable meat supply chain.

Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom said the target is not merely symbolic but is backed by various strategic investments, including cattle farms in and outside the country, feedlot centres, and integrated farming initiatives with local industry players.

“Our target is to produce at least 60,000 cattle by 2030, equivalent to about 25 per cent of our SSL, and we are currently moving in the right direction.

“We have a farm in Rosewood, North Australia, a feedlot in Karambungan, as well as several integrated farming projects with oil palm plantations, and the Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) is also involved in livestock farming, currently owning 3,500 cattle,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters during a visit to the Halal Abattoir Complex, here on Thursday.

According to him, Sarawak’s SSL has now increased from 13 per cent to 16 per cent, a clear indication that the long-term approach is starting to yield results.

However, he stressed that achieving further progress will require building a complete supply chain encompassing upstream production, downstream processing, and market access.

“The main reason why we’re facing challenges in agricultural development is the lack of a complete supply chain. We can encourage people to farm, and they will, but issues arise at the marketing and downstream levels,” he explained.

As part of its broader initiatives, Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi said Sarawak is also set to begin producing local mozzarella cheese by the end of this year.

He added that both initiatives are intended to meet domestic needs and are also eyed for export potential.

Meanwhile, he also assured the public that the current supply of cattle is sufficient to meet demand for the upcoming Hari Raya Korban.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development, Datuk Martin Ben, Chairman of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr) Abdul Aziz Dato Husain, SEDC General Manager, Datu Abdul Hadi Datuk Abdul Kadir, and other dignitaries. -UKASnews