TENOM: The State Government will roll out a one-time feed support program for small-scale pig farmers to help lower production costs and increase output.
Sabah’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, said the aid will target farmers raising 50 pigs or fewer.
He explained that the move comes after realizing the pig farming sector had long been overlooked compared to other livestock industries.
“In the past, we’ve extended help to cattle, goat, poultry, and aquaculture farmers, but never to small pig producers,” he noted.
He added that the Sabah Veterinary Services Department has been tasked with preparing a dedicated budget to launch the initiative soon.
“We are committed to ensuring these farmers get government-backed support, particularly in securing animal feed,” he said.
Jamawi emphasized the importance of the measure, pointing to rising prices of pork products like sinalau bakas (smoked meat), which have become a growing concern for consumers.
“We’re aware of public complaints—sinalau bakas is now priced at around RM47 per kilogram,” he said.
The Melalap ADUN also cited reduced supply due to a two-year ban on wild boar hunting, imposed to curb the spread of animal diseases, as a contributing factor to higher prices.
The state government continues to enforce the hunting restriction to allow wild pig populations to recover.
To help meet local demand, the government has authorized six companies to import pork from overseas, with sources including Denmark and Norway.
Each importer is permitted to bring in two containers monthly, amounting to roughly ten containers entering the state every month.
