Borneo: Commercial chicken farming venture
Those living in rural areas of Sarawak, Borneo, are encouraged to venture into broiler chicken farming on a commercial basis given the high demand for chicken meat locally, reports The Borneo Post.
Sarawak Development Economic Corporation (SEDC) chairman Datuk Talib Zulpilip said by taking up broiler chicken farming, the rural people would be able to upgrade their economic status and also help to reduce the dependence of chicken meat imports from overseas.
In 2005, the demand for chicken meat in the country was 54,824 mt. We imported 17,824 mt of chicken in 2005 while local production was 41,000 mt, meaning there is a shortage,” he said. “We should not be importing chicken because we can rear them. Instead, we should be exporting chicken meat to Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia because they do not have enough suitable land for chicken farming over there,” he added.
Zulpilip said SEDC was concentrating on helping rural folk to supply fresh chicken to replace imported chicken.
“The market has also improved and people nowadays can afford to purchase and eat chicken every day. Many people are finding chicken as the cheapest source of protein when compared to fish,” he said.
Moreover, he said the production of chicken was more consistent and took shorter time to rear compared to cattle or goats. Zulpilip said since 1998, SEDC had provided RM1.51 million in loans to 65 farmers to assist them in commercial broiler chicken farming. “Last year alone, we approved loans amounting to over RM400,000,” he said, adding that apart from giving loans, the corporation also provided the farmers with training, technical know-how, and assistance in marketing.
Source: The Borneo Post
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