PANTU: Rural cooperatives in Sarawak have been identified as potential key players in closing Malaysia’s egg supply gap through egg-laying poultry farming.
The ‘Potential for Rural Cooperative Involvement in Chicken Breeding Projects’ programme was held today at Rumah Ngumbang, Kampung Tuba, which was organised by Institute of Malaysian Cooperatives (IKMa) Sarawak Zone.
The programme aimed to encourage rural communities to start chicken-breeding cooperatives to boost income, improve food security, and address the egg supply shortage.
The closing ceremony for the programme was attended by Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie, Member of Parliament for Sri Aman.
During the ceremony, Doris praised IKMa’s efforts to bring practical knowledge to the ground, despite the logistical challenges of reaching rural communities like Pantu.
“This is already a success in itself – bringing knowledge to the people, no matter how remote,” she said.
She encouraged villagers to consider egg-laying chicken projects not only as income generators but also as potential agro-tourism attractions.
Calling cooperatives a pillar of community empowerment, she urged more rural groups to register and take advantage of guidance provided by IKMa and the Cooperative Societies Commission of Malaysia (SKM).
“The government can support and guide, but the initiative must come from the people. If we work together, we can create real, lasting change,” she said.
