Malaysia needs between 200,000 and 250,000 tonnes of meat annually but can only provide 50,000 tonnes, says Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Deputy Minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.

"To address the shortfall, the government promoted the rearing of livestock. We set up 67 satellite farms nationwide, with each having two to five enclosures that could hold 200 to 500 heads of cattle, buffalo, or goat," he said after launching the Perlis Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day in Kangar, Perlis, today.

The state governments also cooperated by providing land for some 8,000 grazing areas for cattle, buffalo, and goat.

Tajuddin said the third approach was to introduce the integrated farm concept of rearing livestock in coconut and oil palm plantations.

"However, all three approaches did not receive good response from those involved and the government has to import meat from India, Australia, Thailand and Myanmar," he added.

- Bernama