THE Penang government is urging all pig farmers to adopt the modern closed farming system.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that although more than 80% of the farmers had applied to convert their traditional (open system) pig farms into modern closed farms, the implementation process was still slow.
“I advise pig farmers and entrepreneurs to seriously consider the opportunities and to transform their farms into modern closed farms.
“The state has passed the Pig Farming Enactment 2016 which stressed on the conversion of traditional pig farms into modern closed farms.
“The state has directed the local councils to exempt the submission of planning permission for pig farmers who are planning to transit from traditional pig farming (open system) into the closed farming system,” Chow told Buletin Mutiara after visiting Kean Chuan Agritech in Kampung Selamat today.
Chow together with state executive councillors Yeoh Soon Hin, Phee Boon Poh and Soon Lip Chee toured the farm and learned about the modern technology the company had adopted.
“The modern closed farming system is cleaner and technology can help to improve the quality and yield of the product.
Penang Pig Farmer Association chairman Wong Soon Ping urged the pig farmers to convert their traditional pig farms into the modern closed farms.
“We have 166 pig farmers in Penang and about one third of the farms have been converted into modern closed farms,” he said.
Wong is also the chairman of Kean Chuan Agritech Sdn Bhd.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Law Suun Ting
Video by Chan Kok Kuan