The Development of small ruminant industry in Malaysia: experiences in the transfer of technology
1996
Johan, A.M. | Jamaludin, A.B. (Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Economic and Technology Management Research Centre)
The small ruminant sub-sector in Malaysia is very small compared to poultry and beef cattle sub-sectors, and contributed only 0.4 percent to the total annual ex-farm value of livestock products in 1993. Traditionally, goats and sheep are reared in small flocks by farmers, and are considered as a secondary source of income and as a form of savings during hard times. The economic downturn in the early eighties had prompted many primary crop plantation owners to get involved in small ruminant husbandry, particularly sheep, using them as a means of biological plantation weeding as well as a means of diversifying their economic activities. Since then, the interest in small ruminant production has increased - more farmers as well as plantation owners are involved in commercially managed sheep farm businesses. Subsequently, the sheep population has increased from 59.000 head in 1980 to 244.000 in 1993 and the mutton production from sheep has increased more than 150 percent - from negligible (less than 1 MT) in 1980 to 168 MT in 1993. The small ruminant industry has also undergone some changes, features such as bigger farm size, integration with plantation crops, commercially managed enterprises, more important source of rural income and involvement of large business enterprises have become more dominant. The success of the industry is the result of an integrated effort of many agencies and of various sectors. This paper delineates the development of the small ruminant industry, outlining the role and contribution of various agencies responsible for industry development. It describes related activities for the development of the industry especially in the technology transfer process. This paper also reviews the primary constraints to further development of the small ruminant industry and their possible solutions
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