THE State Government is upgrading government-owned ruminant and non-ruminant livestock farms across Sabah under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13) with a total allocation of RM24.3 million to boost production capacity and strengthen the State’s food security.
Assistant Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Hendrus Anding said the upgrading works are being carried out by the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) and involve 11 large ruminant farms, five small ruminant farms and two non-ruminant farms.
“The upgrading includes farms in Keningau, Kudat, Telupid, Tawau and Kota Belud for large ruminants, while small ruminant farms are located in Bongawan, Ranau, Telupid, Kunak and Lahad Datu,” he said when replying to a question from Bongawan Assemblyman Dr Daud Yusof.
Hendrus said RM12.5 million had been allocated for large ruminant farms, RM7 million for small ruminant farms and RM4.8 million for the Bantayan poultry farm and Kiansom duck farm.
He said DVS expects production to increase gradually until 2030, with large ruminant meat production projected to rise by 199 per cent from 126 animals in 2026 to 377 animals in 2030, while breeding stock production is expected to increase by 78 per cent from 423 to 752 animals.
For small ruminants, meat production is projected to increase by 486 per cent from 121 animals to 710 animals, while breeding stock production is expected to rise by 233 per cent from 275 to 916 animals by 2030.
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Hendrus said the current self-sufficiency ratio (SSR) for beef and buffalo meat in Sabah is only 7.05 per cent, and the upgraded DVS farms form part of the RMK-13 strategy to achieve a 25 per cent ruminant meat SSR by 2030 through programmes such as the Oil Palm Integration Programme, MEPKAS and genetic resource development.
He added that Sabah’s broiler chicken requirements of about 35 million birds annually are already fully met by the private sector, with the chicken SSR standing at 105.3 per cent.
“Therefore, the DVS poultry and duck farms serve a different role, including as training and breeding centres for specialised breeds, a source of chicks and ducklings for government programmes, and support for small-scale entrepreneurs and rural communities,” he said.
Bugaya Assemblyman Jamil Hamzah said food security could not be achieved if livestock farmers were only given training without access to land, breeding stock and market opportunities.
He asked whether the Government was prepared to develop an integrated livestock area in Semporna, particularly in Bugaya, for cattle, goat and chicken farming, and what forms of assistance in terms of breeding stock, feed and marketing would be provided to local farmers.
In reply, Hendrus said the Government was prepared to develop areas with potential for livestock expansion, not only in Bugaya but also in other suitable locations across Sabah.
“We have plans and the readiness to develop areas that have the potential to be expanded, not only in the area mentioned (Bugaya), but also in other areas that can help meet the SSR requirements for both dominant and non-dominant livestock,” he said.
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