According to the state Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Stephen Rundi Utom, the cost of importing livestock feed from South America to Sarawak has increased significantly since the outbreak of recent hostilities.
KUCHING: Sarawak, which spends several billion ringgit annually on food imports, is facing a further surge in expenditure as the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East place immense pressure on the livestock industry.
According to the state Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Seri Stephen Rundi Utom, the cost of importing livestock feed from South America to Sarawak has increased significantly since the outbreak of recent hostilities.
“We in Sarawak import our livestock raw materials, such as feedstocks for our cattle and pigs, primarily from Brazil and Argentina.
“Due to the current Middle East conflicts, the cost of importing these materials into Sarawak has surged several times over.
“Logistics costs have risen sharply following the spike in transportation fuel prices. We are concerned about the inflationary impact this will have at the ground level across the state,” Stephen Rundi said during a ministry gathering in Kuching.
Official figures indicate that Sarawak’s reliance on foreign food products is substantial.
Last year, the state’s food import bill exceeded RM7.62 billion, a staggering increase of approximately RM3 billion from the previous year.
Sarawak currently faces challenges in producing sufficient rice, vegetables, and meat products domestically, necessitating large-scale monthly purchases from foreign suppliers.
While the import bill continues to rise annually, the Ministry is adopting various strategies to bolster local production and enhance food security.
Stephen Rundi emphasised that the adoption of efficient technology is no longer optional.
“The use of more advanced technology to increase production is a must. We cannot continue to plant for subsistence alone,” he stated.
The Minister issued a call to the younger generation to venture into modern agriculture, urging them to move past the perception that farming is a “dirty or tough” profession.
“Agriculture is a significant earner if modernised. Advanced technology plays a key role in planting, growing, and harvesting, as seen in developed nations,” he said.
Sarawak aims to transform from a net importer into a food exporter by 2030.
“Our objective is to drastically reduce our import bill by raising local production. This will not only enhance our food security but also turn the food industry into a key contributor to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP),” he added.