Clean up your act, Sabah DCM tells stinky pig farms

 

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Jeffrey Kitingan (with sunglasses) visiting the farms in Tamparuli, Tuaran today.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Jeffrey Kitingan got a feel of what it was like being near a pig farm today, and immediately issued a warning to two farms to improve their waste management system.

The farms in Tamparuli, Ladang GreenFarm Trading and Ladang Jadima, have been blamed for the air and water pollution in the Tuaran district.

“Even standing here, the stench is unbearable. I can only imagine what the villagers must endure every day.” Kitingan, who is state agriculture and food industry minister, said during his visit. He ordered the operators to immediately rectify the situation or risk being fined by the authorities or even have their operations halted.

Kitingan said there had been complaints from nearby villages that waste from the pig farms had found its way into the Sungai Mangkaladoi in Tamparuli.

He added that while the government was supportive of the industry, farmers have to ensure their farms do not become a nuisance to the surrounding communities.

“The industry must be supported because our ministry is all about food production. But at the same time, the situation must be improved,” he said in a statement after his visit.

FMT previously reported that villagers staying along Sungai Mangkaladoi in Tamparuli have long been plagued with pollution at the river.

Kampung Mangkaladoi resident Alijus Sipil said villagers have complained to the authorities for a long time but the situation had not improved.

Kitingan said the problem lies with the farms’ waste system with the ponds overflowing during heavy rain and carrying the smelly waste into the nearby streams and eventually into the main river. A few days ago, the river turned black and smelly.

Both farms have the minimum required ponds to treat waste, Kitingan said, pointing out the problem could easily be resolved by reducing the number of livestock and using available land to build more ponds.

“It is about responsible farming and not about profit only. Another short-term solution would be to engage septic pumper trucks whenever any of the ponds is about to fill up.

“This is a responsible way of managing waste instead of dumping the excess into the river.

“This must be done immediately. There is no need to wait until another complaint is lodged,” he said.

Kitingan said the Sabah Veterinary Services Department (DVS) had already advised both owners.

“If they still fail to abide by the SOPs, they can be fined by the Environment Protection Department or ordered to cease operation by the local authorities,” he said.

He said his ministry, through the DVS, would continue to monitor the situation at the two farms as well as all throughout Sabah.

According to the ministry’s record, the Sabah swine husbandry industry is worth around RM200 million annually and produces about 95% of the state’s needs. In total, there are 42 registered pig farms of various sizes all over Sabah.

Kitingan also said the government would be streamlining the industry by centralising it in only one area. The government has already earmarked a 500-acre piece of land in interior Tongod to be gazetted as a pig farming area.

“Sabah needs to have a major centre for pig farming. This centre will use modern pig farming technology used all over the world.

“It will provide the best possible environment for raising, feeding, and housing pigs. More importantly, the centre will ensure that pollution will be minimal,” he said. - FMT