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M'sia To Collaborate With Japan On Fish, Cattle Breeding

Date: 28 July 2006

Source: Bernama

MUAR, July 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will collaborate with Japan's cattle breeding and fisheries research institutes to raise the country's output of cattle and fish.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said his visit to Japan revealed that the country could produce high quality beef that fetched higher prices in the market.

"The Miazaki breed for example can yield high quality beef and fetches the highest price in the market," he told reporters Friday after celebrating the freedom-fighter veterans from Pagoh at Sri Pekembar in Pagoh here.

The event was organised by Johore Information Department's Special Affairs Division. At the event, he gave a special memento to five prominent veterans from Pagoh.

He said the ministry planned to introduce the Miazaki breed to the National Fedlot Livestock Centre in Negeri Sembilan, and to use part of the ministry's RM80 million allocation for the purpose.

He said the move was in line with the ministry's objective to raise the national meat supply by 40 per cent within the next five years.

Muhyiddin said the cattle, with the use of modern technology and excellent feed, would yield high quality beef and sold at the highest price in the international markets.

He also said the ministry would cooperate with Japan in the field of fisheries, where Japanese fishermen could be used as a model by locals.

On his visit to South Korea, he said that Malaysia could learn a lot from the country, particularly in the fields of marketing foodstuff and agricultural produce.

"It is time for us to emulate South Korea that has been successful in marketing its agricultural and food products direct to special markets managed by the country's cooperatives," he said.

-- BERNAMA

Dr csh · Joined: 21 Jan 2006 Posts: 425

This is interesting because Japan has been safe guarding the genetics of their precious beef breed that can fetch hundreds of USD per kg for the prime cuts. These cows are fed beer and massaged daily to 'rub in' the amazing marbling of the beef. It is interesting that the minister is talking about fetching the highest prices in the international market. Firstly the high price is for the novelty of the so called "kobe" beef which has to be produced in Kobe. Nobody would pay USD200 for a kg of "Negeri Sembilan" beef. (I have nothing against NS being from Seremban myself). Just like Cognac needs to be produced in Cognac France otherwise it is simply Bandy no matter how good it is.
Secondly, the extra beef produced probably will not even meet the local demands why are we talking about exportation? Are we going to do with beef what we do with oil?

The second part is about fisheries and not aquaculture. Fisherman is different from fish producers. The title is misleading.

Dr Dunker · Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 463 Location: Puchong,Selangor

once, a long time ago our country had this look east policy and we saw 'the land of the raising sun' as a bench mark. We then went ahead with plans to begin investing in manufacturing (I say 'we' and not 'the gov' because WE elected the gov). We begin to shift our focus to industry rather then agraculture. We changed a university's name from an agraculture university to somthing else. we have failed after spending untold millions to develop the beef industry. we sited paracites, genetics, topography, georaphy and the weather as factors that went against that grand plan. and to this day we are still not even close to being self sufficient in beef or any of the life stock.- (poultry is not self sufficient as long as we have to import the feed).

So what i am tring to say is that if one wants to follow Japan, go manufacturing, go research, go education for ALL. If u want to go agraculture...look at Thailand. Dont have to go far. The Thais are miles ahead of us in agraculture, aquaculture and sepak takraw (A popular sport here and in Thailand).

Japan did not raise from 2 atomic bombs over night (acctually they did in economic terms). They worked hard on it and they managed what little ressources they had well. Japan does not have large tracts of land of which to farm animals like they do in the US or Australia for example. we are in similar condition when it comes to land size. the plus point is that our land is rich in resources like tin (at one time), oil and timber. Japan's government saw what they lack and used their strengh to their advantage. They had a large popualation with no work after the war. they imported raw meterials and manufactured pritty much everything and anything they can get their hands on. Mitsubishi, Sony, Kawasaki and many others are companies that did well after the war. (mitsubishi and kawasaki were pre war companies) The amazing thing is dispite all the factories, the Japanese have largely maintined their environment (they do suffer form acid rain). I think these qualities are what we should be following. Not importing costly bovines.

Dr lohtk · Joined: 27 Jul 2006 Posts: 14

I tend to agree with Dunker analysis. Our country has abundant of natural resources as well as human resources, but sad to say that "WE" lack common sense in doing many things.
Too much wastage of taxpayers money in implementing many big & grand projects that only benefit a handful of people but not the majority of rakyat. Lack of transparency & accountability but full of excuses whenever a projects failed has also contributed to our current situation.