Pig farmers fret over relocation plans

by Churchill Edward. Posted on April 2, 2011, Saturday

KUCHING: A majority of pig farmers in Kuching and Samarahan divisions are uncertain on the move to relocate from their existing farms to the modern pig farm area (PFA) in Tanah Puteh, Simunjan. This is according to Jong Ted Chin, the recently appointed protem chairman of Pig Farmers Area Relocation Committee. Speaking to The Borneo Post yesterday, Jong said: “We are not against modernisation but before relocating, we need to know if there would be a relocation fund, the terms and conditions and assurance of safety from the relevant authority, among others.”

He said about 70 pig farmers in the two divisions were affected by the relocation move. The dilemma aside, he was also concerned about the dangers of placing all farms in one area, even though the designated modern farm is huge, sitting on 2,000 acres piece of land. “It’s not that we disagree on relocating but in the process, we might have to operate two farms at one time which may incur a big amount of operation costs. Besides, we want to be assured on the safety issues as well,” he explained. He said the committee would likely be meeting the authorities on April 11 to sort things out.

“We also want to make sure that relocation fund is available because moving is very costly,” he added. Using his farm as an example, he said it would cost around RM2 million to operate the farm with 4,000 pigs, not covering maintenance costs for building and water pumps as well as staff. The miscellaneous expenses would cost extra millions of ringgit. Adding to the pressure on the part of the authority, Jong claimed, was the risk of not being able to renew their licences if they refuse to comply with the move.

“It would only be fair if all plans, including terms and conditions, are made known to us before the relocation project is implemented. If we have signed, things would not be able to change thereafter. This is why the committee was formed, to take care of our interests,” he pointed out, adding that at present, they were uncertain of the whole plan. The RM163 million modern pig farm in Tanah Puteh, Simunjan, is the biggest in Sarawak, boasts a bio-gas waste treatment plant which costs about RM93 million and a meat processing factory.

In view of their predicament and uncertainty on the future of the business, the committee will be holding a meeting and also a press conference at Tong Guan Restaurant at Central Park at 7.30pm tonight.

Most Modern Abattoir in Asia

Plan to build integrated and centralised pig farm

Posted on January 23, 2011, Sunday

SIBU: Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh said on Friday there was a plan to relocate the pig’s farms here to help farmers upgrade their business.

WORKING TOWARDS A WIN-WIN SITUATION: Wong (seated third left) and Ling (third right) with relevant authorities in the Friday meeting to identify a piece of land for the modern integrated and centralised pig farm in Central Sarawak.

Speaking to reporters after having met members of Sibu Livestock Farmers’ Association, he said these farmers had built their farms some 30 years ago in the outskirts of the town. He agreed there was an urgent need to set up an integrated and centralised pig farm to replace the existing farms. “Population has increased these few decades after these farms were built decades ago. Some of them are now located too close to the residential areas.” Wong, who is also Minister of Public Health and Environment, said this had sparked environmental concern, adding, with some farms built as early as the 1950s was difficult for farmers to expand their existing farms.

He admitted there were also difficulties for updated environment regulations to be implemented on these conventional farms. “There are more than 20 conventional pig farms in Sibu. We have to understand they are facing constraints and they have used up their land.” “Therefore, it is difficult to apply these new environment regulations,” he said. Citing an example of the environment constraint, Wong said there was no room in these chocked farms now to set up the bio gas treatment plant. In Kuching, he said this problem had been solved when a plot of 2,000 acres were set up for livestock farmers.

The minister said members of the livestock association were now working with the authorities on this.“Since last year, we have met at least thrice and we have thrashed out difficulties towards a win-win situation to set up the modern farm.” He said the authorities involved in this matter included the Land and Survey Department, Department of Environment, Agriculture Department and the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB).

He said identifying the land was in progress now, and when this was done, he (Wong) would need support letters from the various departments for the application of land for the integrated and centralised farm. Also present in the Friday meeting were members of the association led by chairman Ling Chi Kiong and representatives of the relevant departments.

Meanwhile, Ling told reporters they were working closely with the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism after pork was listed as a controlled item in the Chinese New Year celebration. He said there was no shortage in the pork supply, adding they would adhere to the gazetted price list of pork by the ministry.