The government will set up a Dairy Board next year to spearhead the growth of Malaysia’s dairy industry.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that the board will plan and lead the local dairy industry, which will be under the purview of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry.
Other ministries and bodies comprising the board include the Health Ministry, the Education Ministry, the Higher Education Ministry and the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).
“This will (develop) the industry holistically. The specialties of each ministry is needed to achieve the national target,” Najib said during a press conference on the sidelines of his working visit to the Muadzam Shah Cattle Research and Innovation Centre (MSCRIC) here this afternoon.
The Prime Minister said that the government’s national target is to produce 2.260 billion litres (in total) by 2050.
“This requires 502,000 cows, compared to the current number of 21,000 cows (in farms nationwide),” he said.
He added that this national project is necessary, as Malaysian milk consumption of 19.92 litres a year lags behind that of other nations like the United States and countries in Europe, which have a per capita milk consumption of between 100 and 150 litres a year.
Najib also said that the MSCRIC here will be developed as an eco-tourism attraction so that visitors could experience and appreciate the dairy production process, among others.
The entire area encompassing the MSCRIC here will later be known as the Muadzam Dairy Valley, he added.
Source: News Straits Times