SEREMBAN: The Negeri Sembilan government is calling on entrepreneurs or breeders to operate livestock and ruminant farms over 289 hectares of uncultivated grazing lands still available in the state.

       State Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Committee chairman Datuk Bakri Sawir, said the grazing fields could also be planted with Napier grass, thus reducing the dependence on animal feed pallets.

       The effort would also increase the size of livestock production and meat supply to meet the demand, as well as maintain prices.

       "Negeri Sembilan is capable of producing about 30% of the meat supply, including beef and mutton.

       "The meat production will be increased, but now, we want to optimise the use of untapped pasture in the state," he told reporters after visiting Sumobek Sdn Bhd Ruminant Slaughterhouse here on Friday (March 4).

       To attract the interest of farmers, he said the state government had reduced the land lease price to RM1,500 yearly, compared to the current value of between RM4,000 and RM5,000.

       In the meantime, he said the total of 1,259 hectares of grazing fields statewide had been reserved under the Negeri Sembilan Veterinary Service Department (JPVNS) at 33 locations, including satellite farms.

       Bakri said so far, 2,145 ruminant farmers in all categories had been registered in the state, with 88 individuals working on reserve land under the JPVNS. - Bernama