Chiew Choon Man, the Sarawakian MP, has highlighted various obstacles hindering pig farmers from adopting modern pig farming, as the industry continues to struggle with African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks.
These, CodeBlue reported, include the need for large capital expenditure as upgrading a farm of 100 sows, for example, can cost up to RM2.5 million (£400,000); complex and lengthy land approval processes; as well as ASF that can risk new investments losing entire herds in an infected farm.
“Data shows that farm prices of live pigs in the peninsula have increased from around RM7.18/kg in 2019 to RM17.50/kg this year – an increase of more than 140%,” Chiew said in a statement after meeting the Domestic Trade, Entrepreneurship, Cost of Living and Agriculture parliament special select committee in Parliament.
“This increase isn’t solely due to operational costs, but structural factors: an ASF epidemic that has been persisting from 2022 until now, the closure of a few farms, as well as uncertainty that has led many farmers to reduce and delay restocking breeding sows.
“Additionally, the cost of new breeding stock is still high. Up till now, there is still no ASF vaccine, even as the standard disease control method remains stamping-out (eradication of an entire herd in a farm that is confirmed to be infected).”
Chiew said the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is driving the agenda of localising feed by increasing domestic production of feed materials and promoting local alternatives so that input costs can be reduced and livestock prices, including fresh pork, can be stabilised and made more affordable for consumers.
He said: “Among the short-term initiatives offered by the federal government is that the Ministry of Economy will collaborate with commercial banks to provide financing facilities to help farmers transform open farms into closed farms through commercial bank funding
“The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will also apply for a revolving fund under the 13th Malaysia Plan allocation for the Closed Pig Farm Transformation Programme, including the implementation of modern pig farms and pig farming areas.”
The Sarawakian MP urged the federal government and state governments to provide more comprehensive financial support to farmers, including capital facilities, grants or incentives for farm machinery and equipment modernisation, and targeted feed subsidies so that the industry becomes more resilient to price shocks and disease risks.
“With the right fiscal support, we can stabilise the supply chain, protect consumers, and ensure the sustainability of local farmers.”