Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has announced its ambitious goal to reach a 100 per cent Self-Sufficiency Ratio (SSR) for fresh milk production by 2028. This target is set to be achieved through the rollout of several capacity-building programs.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the National Dairy Industry Development Programme 2021-2025 has already hit its production target of 20 million liters within five years, underscoring the success of the initiatives. Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, noted the upward trend in fresh milk SSR from 2021 to 2023 alongside increased local production.

The fresh milk SSR rose from 56.7 per cent in 2021 to 57.3 per cent in 2022, reaching 66.8 per cent in 2023. Despite this progress, there was a slight decrease of 0.1 per cent to 66.7 per cent in 2024, attributed to factors such as lower participation among small-scale breeders. Mohamad shared these insights during a Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat, in response to a query from Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi (PN-Tumpat) about the National Dairy Industry Development Programme's efficacy.

To meet the 2028 target, KPKM is executing the National Dairy Production Strengthening Project under the 13th Malaysia Plan, backed by a RM30 million budget to boost livestock numbers and deploy modern equipment. Addressing the challenge of rising animal feed costs, the ministry plans several interventions, including developing 136,527 hectares of cultivation land to produce 1.25 million tonnes of animal feed annually. Efforts will also focus on developing high-potential maize varieties and exploring local alternatives like palm kernel cake, soy waste, and moringa leaves to lessen import reliance.

Moreover, the government will initiate a campaign this year to promote local fresh milk, aiming to increase public awareness of its benefits and encourage the consumption of natural milk without added sugar to stimulate domestic demand.