KOTA KINABALU: Sabah aims to increase its meat self-sufficiency level from nine per cent to at least 25 per cent by 2030 as part of efforts to reduce reliance on food imports.
State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar said the ministry was working to strengthen local production and improve food security amid rising shipping costs and global uncertainties.
“Our policy at the Ministry is to cut food imports. Meat self-sufficiency level is only nine per cent now and we want to raise it to at least 25 per cent by 2030,” he said at a recent forum held at Wisma Pertanian.
The forum was held in conjunction with the Sabah Department of Veterinary Services’ 50th anniversary. The department is one of nine departments and agencies under the ministry.
Jamawi said rising shipping costs linked to the Red Sea crisis and global tensions had made ensuring a stable food supply an increasingly important responsibility.
He said Sabah produced enough whole chickens to meet local demand but still relied on imports of about five million kilogrammes of chicken parts, mainly wings and thighs, every month.
“When we add capacity for whole chickens, it does not automatically add capacity for chicken parts.
“A chicken does not have four wings or four thighs. Even with our technology, that is not possible,” he said.
Jamawi said he had recently visited Thailand to address concerns over the high level of chicken-part smuggling, particularly from China.
“Malaysia does not recognise China as a source because bird flu remains a concern and it does not meet standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health,” he said.
He said the number of Thai factories approved to supply Sabah had increased from 10 to 17.
“Our aim is safe and halal food from sources verified by our auditors,” he said.
Jamawi added that 12 slaughterhouses operated by the Veterinary Services Department and another 18 privately run facilities were being upgraded.
A poultry production centre on the West Coast was also being upgraded to increase the production of chicks, ducklings and quail chicks.
He said Sabah could still import goats, but locally produced goat meat was often considered too tough for roast dishes.
Further studies were therefore needed to improve its quality and match consumer expectations of imported meat.
“Sabah already supplies all its duck, duck eggs and fresh milk, but still imports UHT milk,” he said.
Meanwhile, about 95 per cent of chicken feed, mainly corn, was imported, prompting the ministry to expand local grain corn production.
Jamawi said he had introduced a policy early this year to develop at least 500 acres of grain corn in Sabah. About 200 acres had been planted so far, with several cooperatives receiving assistance.
A trial in Kota Marudu showed that locally grown corn cost about 90 sen per kilogramme to produce, compared with about RM1.60 per kilogramme for imported corn.
“If we use machines, we get a lower price than imports and farmers can make a profit,” he said.
He added that the Agriculture Department provided matching assistance covering half of a farmer’s expenditure. For example, a farmer who spent RM100,000 could receive an additional RM50,000 in assistance.
On the Kitchen Garden Initiative, Jamawi said participants were offered discounted livestock rather than free stock.
Laying hens priced at RM5 each and broiler chickens priced at RM3 each were sold at half price, while quail cost 80 sen each.
“Some people criticised me, saying Jamawi does not use allocations to give things free to the people,” he said.
“No, in my time nothing is free. We give discounts because free things are sometimes not appreciated.”Jamawi said he had requested a report on the 1Azam programme after taking office last December. The programme, launched more than 15 years ago, had a reported success rate of only about 20 per cent.
“The other 80 per cent failed because things were given free, so there was no shared responsibility to look after and work on them,” he said.
He said successful farmers could apply for interest-free loans of up to RM100,000 through Sabah Credit Corporation to expand their businesses.
“Start small with us through the Kitchen Garden Initiative. When it succeeds and you want to grow, we will bring you to Sabah Credit,” he said.
