Sarawak aims to boost local dairy industry, promote consumption

SERIAN (March 6): Sarawak is aiming to expand its fresh milk industry and raise public awareness of locally produced dairy products, said State Minister for Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.

He noted that many consumers are still unfamiliar with fresh milk, despite local production already taking place.

“Fresh milk is actually better than formulated milk, but many people are not used to drinking it because there has not been much promotion,” he told reporters during a working visit to Ecofarm Solutions Sdn Bhd in Kampung Panchor here.

Dr Rundi said the media could help highlight that fresh milk is being produced locally and suggested linking local dairy production with school nutrition programmes to encourage consumption among students.

“Perhaps the Education Department can help support this through school programmes,” he said.

During the visit, he praised the farm’s management and hygiene standards, noting its closed-system operation with strict biosecurity measures.

“You don’t see the usual smell or many flies. The farm is very clean and well managed,” he said.

Ecofarm Solutions director Izzy Ng Yi Xin said the farm was started by her late father, and she returned to Sarawak after studying animal science in the United Kingdom to help run the business.

“When I graduated, I came back to help out my late father with Ecofarm. Over the years, it has grown and we are still trying to get our brand out there,” she said.

Ng said the company hopes to expand operations and make fresh milk more accessible.

“People often think fresh milk is something very premium, but we want it to become a staple in people’s diet and be affordable for everyone, including children,” she said.

The farm currently houses about 300 cattle, expected to grow to 490 with new calves. By September, it will have roughly 230 milking cows, boosting milk production from the current 600 litres per day to about 5,000 litres daily.

Ng added that Ecofarm aims to expand its market beyond Kuching and Serian.

“At the moment our products are mainly sold in supermarkets around Kuching and Serian. We did try to expand to other areas before, but the response was not very strong, so we plan to re-enter those markets again in the near future,” she said.

She also thanked the state government for its support and expressed hope for further collaboration, including working with farmers to supply feed crops such as napier grass to strengthen the local dairy industry.