MALAYSIA TARGETS 1.1 BIL LITRES MILK PRODUCTION ANNUALLY

PASIR PUTEH (Malaysia), Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia aims to raise the milk
production under the feedlot concept to 1.1 billion litres yearly to reduce its
import dependency.

Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said the
country curently produced 51 million litres of milk yearly or 4.6 per cent of
the national consumption.

Efforts to increase the production and reduce the dependency on import is
hampered by lack of interest from cattle breeders, he told reporters after
visiting the Sungai Durian Feedlot Husbandry project in this northeastern town
Monday.

He said this was further compounded by the tropical weather which was deemed
not conducive for high yield milk production.

Mustapa said the ministry had sought the help of Dutch Lady, a world leader
in dairy business, to help nurture feedlot breeders.

"The company has agreed to share its technology and expertise in developing
local feedlot entrepreneurs," he said, adding that he hoped the younger
generation would go into the lucrative sector.

The price of milk has gone up from RM1.50 per litre to RM2 per litre while
processed milk fetches RM5 per litre, he added. (US$1=RM3.61)
-- BERNAMA