SHAH ALAM, 17 Nov: The state government is ready to assist ruminant animal farmers in the state by providing a suitable site if the parties involved agree to find a solution together.

The Chief Minister, Mohamed Azmin Ali, said that the state government is concerned about the fate of these people and will not marginalise them in the state’s wave of development.

“The state government is ready to prepare a suitable site for animal farmers to help the breeders in Selangor.

“But we want an understanding between both parties (the state government and animal farmers). If they agree to move, we have no problem in helping,” he said.

He said this to reporters after officiating the Selangor Government Administration Innovation Day 2014 celebration today.

He was commenting on the issue where over 1300 ruminant animal farmers (cattle, buffalo and goats) are pressured by development and limited land in Selangor, where a number of them have already folded their operations.

Prior to this, the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) Director General, Datuk Dr Mohammad Azmie Zakaria, said that all state governments are urged to optimise the use of 29,000 hectares of gazetted land as livestock reserves to ensure the national food supply.

In fact, state governments have been urged to develop these areas with basic infrastructure such as access roads, stables and water and electricity supply to safeguard the interests of animal farmers.

Only in that way can the livestock industry be secured when faced with the process of urbanisation and pressures of rapid development in most states, including Selangor.

NS