THE Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia is committed to improving the livelihood of farmers.
Your NST Leader titled “Wanted: Boost for Breeders” on March 12 is referred.
It is about Muhammad Syukur Khamis, the 14 year old Malaysian “Mowgli”, whose unique bonding with buffaloes at his father’s farm made headlines and captured many hearts recently.
His father, Khamis Jusoh, is a buffalo, goat, cattle, goose and village chicken farmer.
The farming business has been in the family for three generations. His story was well captured by the press.
The Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry, through the Department of Veterinary Services, has consistently assisted the farmer. In fact, an officer has been appointed to provide extension services.
The department had supplied wire fences to fence his farm and chopper machines to cut grass or corn stalks to feed animals.
In addition, funds were provided to repair his cattle shed.
To help him grow grass, fertilisers were provided.
The department also supplied 100 drums to prepare silage.
Animal health and disease control programmes were provided, all for free. A lot of assistance has been rendered.
Hence, the department is surprised that your newspaper has painted a negative picture of the situation. Your editorial mentioned about the 1960s pawah system and its problems. It is almost 60 years, and a lot of changes have been made to improve the mechanism to supply animals to farmers.
Now, farmers who have animals and the resources (areas for feed and shed) are eligible for assistance.
I wish you had taken the trouble to understand the improved schemes and programmes. The lack of this has resulted in the editorial being biased.
The department is committed to further improving the livelihood of farmers by providing services and resources.
We strive to increase the productivity of farmers so that the production of meat and milk can be increased under challenging situations.
DATUK DR QUAZA NIZAMUDDIN HASSAN NIZAM
Director-general, Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia, Putrajaya