State delegation in India to study buffalo industry
MIRI: A delegation from the state Ministry of Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development is currently on a working visit to India to study the buffalo industry.
Led by Assistant Minister of Agriculture Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, the visit until next Monday will focus specifically on dairy buffalo.
“This visit covers the whole supply chain starting from farm production to marketing, including wholesomeness and food safety of buffalo products,” said Dr Abdul Rahman in a statement.
Included in the programme are the Department of Animal Husbandry of the Government of Maharashtra in Gokhale Nagar, Mumbai, and neighbouring Aurangabad.
The delegation will also study the mechanism adopted by the Indian government to control foot and mouth disease (FMD) and maintaining its FMD-free status with vaccination.
In the programme are government departments, farms and private companies in Mumbai and Aurangabad involved in the Indian buffalo industry.
Members of the delegation include Deputy State Secretary (Socioeconomic Transformation) Datu Ismawi Ismuni, consulgeneral of Malaysia in Mumbai Zainal Azlan Mohd Nadzir, ministry deputy permanent secretary Paul Vincent Ritom, and state Veterinary Services Department director Dr Adrian Susin Ambud.
Sarawak is looking to increase production of cattle and buffalos to reduce the state’s reliance on imports.