KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak has emerged as one of the main contributors in the federal government’s efforts to stabilise pork prices in the local market following the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF).
In a TVS news report, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said among the immediate interventions was to facilitate the export of live pigs from Sarawak to Malaya to offset production shortages.
“So far, a total of 1,600 live pigs from Sarawak have arrived at Port Klang for slaughter.
“This measure helps cushion the impact of reduced local production due to ASF, and the number is expected to rise with new applications,” he told the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Aug 18).
Arthur also revealed that the ASF outbreak had led to a sharp decline in the country’s pig population, dropping from 1.86 million in 2021 to only 1.24 million last year.
In addition to relying on Sarawak, he said the government is also focusing on long-term strategies by encouraging modern farming practices and developing Pig Farming Areas (PFA) in other producing states.
“For instance, a PFA will be established in Tongod, Sabah, at a cost of RM26 million.
“It will be equipped with infrastructure to ensure more integrated, biosecure and sustainable farming,” he said.
He added that engagement sessions with farmers, butchers and importers will also be carried out to address livestock challenges and improve disease control measures.
The country’s pork self-sufficiency rate (SSR) stands at 67.8 per cent this year.
