Ok sambung balik..
Aku selalu travel ke Thailand masa terlibat dengan lembu dulu. Aku selalu bawa customer untuk buat selection kat sana. Rata-rata customer yang belum pernah ke bahagian kampung dan interior Thailand semua berpendapat bahawa Thailand adalah sebuah negara yang lagi inferior dari Malaysia.
Aku suka bawa orang yang macam ni ke Thailand. Bagi dia orang jalan-jalan dan buka mata masing-masing. Setelah 3-4 hari pusing kampung cari lembu. Alhamdulillah..persepsi mereka berubah. Tiada lagi feel good factor terhadap negara sendiri. Bukannya tak nak berbangga dengan negara sendiri. Tetapi kalau kita sentiasa berada dalam comfort zone. Alamat memang tak kemana lah kita.
Aku suka dengan satu konsep yang diperkenalkan oleh raja siam kepada rakyatnya yang berada di kampung. Raja dia orang cakap, kepada siapa yang ada sawah, dia tidak perlu berbelanja lagi untuk makanannya. Mereka hanya perlu pastikan di dalam petak sawah mereka ada padi, dalam petak sawah juga ada ikan dan kerbau@lembu. Itu dah cukup untuk menjamin ketidakbergantungan mereka terhadap orang lain. Dan raja siam juga bukan main cakap saja. Dia lead by example. Dia sendiri ada sawah padi kat dalam kawasan istana di Bangkok. Dalam sawah ada kerbau dan ikan. Sumber makanan semua tu. Tak percaya? Sila pergi tengok.
Berbalik kepada cadangan untuk membawa masuk baka-baka pedaging menarik dari luar negara tadi. Personally bagi aku, tak perlulah nak import baka-baka lembu nih dari luar negara. Banyakkan populasi lembu tempatan dan kacukan tempatan. Kita nak buat baka cantik-cantik pun bukan boleh export luar negara ke high value market. Negara kita masih belum bebas FMD. Macam mana nak export. Baik fikir macam mana nak penuhkan perut rakyat jelata dulu.
Satu lagi pendapat aku. Kalaulah NFC tu dibuat dengan sebetulnya sekalipun (i.e. tiada hanky-panky and all). Aku masih merasakan NFC ini tak akan berjaya atas beberapa sebab. Sebab yang paling utama ialah saingan yang wujud dari imported beef. Memang tak ke manalah industri kita selagi ada imported beef kat pasaran. Contoh empirical lihat tahun 80-an. The biggest livestock player in Malaysia that time was Lazuli, headed by Dr. Rosli Mai Lam. Dia berjaya feedlot lembu dari Australia sehingga 5,000 ekor pada satu masa. Kenapa dia berjaya time tu?Kenapa feedlot yang ada sekarang macam hidup segan mati tak mahu? Satu sebab sahaja...sebab masa tu import daging tak dibenarkan...hanya daging special cuts sahaja dibenarkan.
Kes ini sama jugak bagi industri tenusu. Aku ambil contoh di Thailand juga. Harga maksimum jualan susu segar di kepada kilang dan koperasi di Thailand adalah lebih kurang Baht 17 atau RM 1.90 per liter. Manakala, harga maksimum jualan susu segar bagi kilang-kilang di Malaysia lebih kurang RM2.20 hingga RM2.50 per liter. Tapi tak banyak jugak orang yang berjaya buat tenusu ni walaupun harga jualan kita lebih mahal. Kenapa? Sebab penternak tenusu kita perlu bersaing dengan barang import yang ada di pasaran. Di Suphan Buri sahaja ada lebih 4,000 orang penternak lembu tenusu dengan pegangan minimum 20 ekor lembu seorang. Kenapa macam tu sekali? Satu sahaja beza, di pasaraya Thailand reconstituted milk tidak dijual. Imported milk hanya dibenarkan dalam bentuk fresh milk. Imported fresh milk ni agak mahal. Macam daging high value juga. Jadi orang kebanyakan akan pilih produk tempatan over imported ones. Macam hukum ekonomi lah..people always think on the margin.
Betul jika ditutup semua pintu-pintu import ni, harga komoditi akan melambung naik. Tapi itu hanyalah temporary effect. In time, the supply will adjust to the demand accordingly. Harga akan stabil dan yang paling penting supply akan jadi stabil. Bagi aku senang je, barang-barang import ni khususnya food based lah. Kalau dibenarkan import secara berleluasa, it will not only kill the players, it will kill the existing industry as well.
Ok dah malas nak tulis...dah melalut masuk bab lain.
Assalamualaikum.
Monday 29 April 2013
Self Sufficiency Part I
Adapun membela kambing ni dah dijadikan satu pekerjaan oleh aku, target sebenar aku bukanlah nak jadi taukeh kambing besar-besaran. Sewaktu bermula aku dah niat dalam hati untuk membuktikan bahawa dalam dunia serba-serbi kena bayar ni, kita semua boleh lagi hidup dengan hasil tangan kita sendiri. Maksud aku, hidup dengan hasilan dari titik peluh kita sendiri. Sayur dari kebun, sumber protein dari ikan, ayam, kambing dan lembu belaan sendiri.
Aku kagum melihat org putih di Amerika sana, hidup dalam gaya "homestead". Hampir 90% yang dihidangkan di atas meja makan adalah dari backyard mereka. Selebihnya diperolehi dengan sistem barter dengan orang lain.
Minggu lepas kali pertama aku makan lunch dengan 90% makanan dihasilkan di atas tanah ladang ni. Hanya beras yang dibeli. Selain dari nikmat kenyang, satu nikmat yang jarang-jarang diperolehi ialah kepuasan hati kerana menyedari yang makanan dimakan adalah yang dihasilkan tangan sendiri.Puas hati wa cakap lu. Ikan pancing kat kolam. Ayam kampung bela sendiri. Daging anak lembu belaan sendiri. Sayur dari kebun sempit tepi rumah. Beras je yang beli.
Aku pernah menyertai seminar sekuriti makanan pada tahun 2010 anjuran Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani. Seminar berlangsung selama sehari di PWTC. Target nya adalah untuk mendapatkan input industry players bagaimana nak capai targeted self sufficiency level menjelang tahun 2020. Time tu data yang ada bagi daging lembu (sebab aku terlibat dalam lembu pedaging) lebih kurang 20%. Ayam dan babi masing-masing dan melebih 100%. Aku pun punya la syok kat dalam bengkel menulis suggestion kepada Menteri Pertanian bagaimana caranya nak meningkatkan SSL kita. Antara cadangan aku ialah untuk mengurangkan kuota import daging beku. Ini supaya adanya insentif dari segi ekonomi kepada penternak dan pembiak. Aku rasa inilah satu-satunya langkah yang paling wajar bagi kita untuk meningkatkan SSL kita. Mengurangkan kebergantungan kepada import. Macam di Indonesia dan Thailand. Daging kerbau low class dari India langsung tidak dibenarkan masuk ke negara mereka. No wonder pembiakan dan penternakan sangat maju. Ya memang ada penyeludupan, tapi tak mampu nak gugat industri mereka. Sehabisnya bengkel, menteri beri ucapan penggulungan bersama mengumumkan cadangan yang telah diterima dan akan dipertimbangkan. Tapi malangnya, cadangan aku langsung tak di ambil kira. Antara yang dikira ialah cadangan untuk membawa masuk lebih banyak baka pedaging superior dari negara luar (baca:untung kepada importer yang dapat tender).
Sejak dari itu, aku tidak lagi percaya dengan usaha murni untuk meningkatkan SSL negara. Lalu itu aku bertekad untuk meningkatkan SSL aku sendiri. Aku tak tahu apa jadi dengan SSL kita sekarang. Terbaru daging import dari negara Sudan dan Pakistan sudah berada di pasaran. Secara tersiratnya SSL kita semakin jatuh. Yang pasti lagi rendah dari tahun 2010.
Sampai bila kita nak bergantung dengan hasilan orang. Mendedahkan diri kita kepada turun naik harga komoditi dan juga tukaran wang. Membiarkan physical cash mengalir keluar dari negara seterusnya mendedahkan kita kepada serangan speculator. Seperti yang aku katakan.. the most important building block of a nation is the ability to produce its own food. Bukan MRT. Bukan bangunan pencakar langit.
Ok dah malas menaip. Sambung lain kali lah. Nak mandi.
Adios..
Aku kagum melihat org putih di Amerika sana, hidup dalam gaya "homestead". Hampir 90% yang dihidangkan di atas meja makan adalah dari backyard mereka. Selebihnya diperolehi dengan sistem barter dengan orang lain.
Minggu lepas kali pertama aku makan lunch dengan 90% makanan dihasilkan di atas tanah ladang ni. Hanya beras yang dibeli. Selain dari nikmat kenyang, satu nikmat yang jarang-jarang diperolehi ialah kepuasan hati kerana menyedari yang makanan dimakan adalah yang dihasilkan tangan sendiri.Puas hati wa cakap lu. Ikan pancing kat kolam. Ayam kampung bela sendiri. Daging anak lembu belaan sendiri. Sayur dari kebun sempit tepi rumah. Beras je yang beli.
Aku pernah menyertai seminar sekuriti makanan pada tahun 2010 anjuran Kementerian Pertanian dan Industri Asas Tani. Seminar berlangsung selama sehari di PWTC. Target nya adalah untuk mendapatkan input industry players bagaimana nak capai targeted self sufficiency level menjelang tahun 2020. Time tu data yang ada bagi daging lembu (sebab aku terlibat dalam lembu pedaging) lebih kurang 20%. Ayam dan babi masing-masing dan melebih 100%. Aku pun punya la syok kat dalam bengkel menulis suggestion kepada Menteri Pertanian bagaimana caranya nak meningkatkan SSL kita. Antara cadangan aku ialah untuk mengurangkan kuota import daging beku. Ini supaya adanya insentif dari segi ekonomi kepada penternak dan pembiak. Aku rasa inilah satu-satunya langkah yang paling wajar bagi kita untuk meningkatkan SSL kita. Mengurangkan kebergantungan kepada import. Macam di Indonesia dan Thailand. Daging kerbau low class dari India langsung tidak dibenarkan masuk ke negara mereka. No wonder pembiakan dan penternakan sangat maju. Ya memang ada penyeludupan, tapi tak mampu nak gugat industri mereka. Sehabisnya bengkel, menteri beri ucapan penggulungan bersama mengumumkan cadangan yang telah diterima dan akan dipertimbangkan. Tapi malangnya, cadangan aku langsung tak di ambil kira. Antara yang dikira ialah cadangan untuk membawa masuk lebih banyak baka pedaging superior dari negara luar (baca:untung kepada importer yang dapat tender).
Sejak dari itu, aku tidak lagi percaya dengan usaha murni untuk meningkatkan SSL negara. Lalu itu aku bertekad untuk meningkatkan SSL aku sendiri. Aku tak tahu apa jadi dengan SSL kita sekarang. Terbaru daging import dari negara Sudan dan Pakistan sudah berada di pasaran. Secara tersiratnya SSL kita semakin jatuh. Yang pasti lagi rendah dari tahun 2010.
Sampai bila kita nak bergantung dengan hasilan orang. Mendedahkan diri kita kepada turun naik harga komoditi dan juga tukaran wang. Membiarkan physical cash mengalir keluar dari negara seterusnya mendedahkan kita kepada serangan speculator. Seperti yang aku katakan.. the most important building block of a nation is the ability to produce its own food. Bukan MRT. Bukan bangunan pencakar langit.
Ok dah malas menaip. Sambung lain kali lah. Nak mandi.
Adios..
Thursday 25 April 2013
Another Set Of Twin.
One of my does gave birth to a wonderful set of twin last night. Both kids are males. They're both in good health. One kid is much bigger than the other. The heavier kid is around 1.3kg and the littler one is around 1.1kg. The mother is milking very well. Both kids got their ever most important colostrum. Both are giving yellowish poop. So, that's a good sign.
I didn't get to see the whole birthing process. I have witnessed it before so no biggie. The best thing about katjang breed is that the does are very good mothers. Even for first-timers. They don't really need human intervention to go through the labor process. The orientation of the kids are usually normal. Very rarely the kids are in breach position and even if that happens, the does usually resolve the issue on their own.
I have another doe that's going into labor soon. I expect for her to give me twins too. From my observation, I predict that the doe will go into labor as early as tonight. So, wish us luck.
Here's a picture of the twins and their mother.
I didn't get to see the whole birthing process. I have witnessed it before so no biggie. The best thing about katjang breed is that the does are very good mothers. Even for first-timers. They don't really need human intervention to go through the labor process. The orientation of the kids are usually normal. Very rarely the kids are in breach position and even if that happens, the does usually resolve the issue on their own.
I have another doe that's going into labor soon. I expect for her to give me twins too. From my observation, I predict that the doe will go into labor as early as tonight. So, wish us luck.
Here's a picture of the twins and their mother.
Monday 15 April 2013
Lidah Bercabang
Sekarang ni ada masalah pest dekat ladang aku. Buat aku geram betul. Kalau ye pun lapar, pegi la makan ayam ke, musang ke, burung ke, getah sekerap ke. Ini kau baham anak kambing aku. Dah lah pilih yang besar. Pastu telan tak pas. Muntah balik, kan ke membazir namanya tu.
Ikhtiar terakhir aku ialah pasang pukat seluruh kandang. Dah jadi macam kandang ayam dah. Orang kata, ular sawa ni kalau dah dapat carik makan kat satu tempat, alamat dia akan selalu berkunjung lah sehingga tangkapan pesalah dilakukan.
Inilah akibat kalau buat kandang kat kawasan paya. Orang lain takde masalah ular, aku pulak anak kambing kena makan ngan ular. Kalau aku dapat ular tu, aku bela dalam tong dram. Sape nak tengok kena caj 20 sen.
Kat bawah ni gambar arwah anak kambing yang dimakan dan diludah balik oleh si ular sawa. Sakit hati betul aku tengok gambar ni.
Ikhtiar terakhir aku ialah pasang pukat seluruh kandang. Dah jadi macam kandang ayam dah. Orang kata, ular sawa ni kalau dah dapat carik makan kat satu tempat, alamat dia akan selalu berkunjung lah sehingga tangkapan pesalah dilakukan.
Inilah akibat kalau buat kandang kat kawasan paya. Orang lain takde masalah ular, aku pulak anak kambing kena makan ngan ular. Kalau aku dapat ular tu, aku bela dalam tong dram. Sape nak tengok kena caj 20 sen.
Kat bawah ni gambar arwah anak kambing yang dimakan dan diludah balik oleh si ular sawa. Sakit hati betul aku tengok gambar ni.
Rest in peace lah wahai anak kambing.
Nota: sehingga entry ini ditulis. Pesalah masih belum dapat ditangkap.
Thursday 11 April 2013
The Goats
I sourced the animals from various districts in Kelantan. My main goal is to have a better genetic pool. Almost 90% of them are of the native breed (katchang/katjang-variations on the theme). Very hardy, docile, colorful, productive and full of curiosity. These are some of their attributes. To me, they look a bit like the N. dwarf, only bigger in size.
All of them came here, with an exception for few, in somewhat poor condition. Severely underweight and underfed. With some extra food and proper medication, they have become the most beautiful/handsome goats I have ever seen.
For the first couple of months, they were kept in their pens with food catered to them everyday. They needed to be kept like that because I wanted them to familiarize themselves with the barn, the surrounding areas, the sound of tractors and people on the farm. The third month was when I gave them the freedom to roam around the farm area. The new animals that arrived after this period followed the existing herd almost autonomously, no need for crash course in getting used to the farm.
On most days, they would go out on the pasture as early as 10am. They would come back to the barn for a drink when the day is at its hottest. Just when the heat subsides and a bit bearable to the kids, they'd go out again grazing until it's almost dusk. They'd come back with full bellies and rest for the night. I usually give them a handful of goat pellets to each one of them and that's about it. No hay, no grains, just water for them to stay hydrated through the night.
I sometimes follow them out on the pasture. They seem to enjoy the company of each other, take turns jumping from a termite mound, do silly things as goats would. The kids are usually busy kidding around, the does graze the most. The bucks, they are always on the look out for does on heat.
I have two bucks in the group, both are equally responsible. Especially the older one, he usually calls out for the kids so that they won't miss or get lost from the group. He's very strong and athletic. As to date he has fathered around 25 kids altogether(not all of them survived though, but that will be in another story). I do not know his exact age. When I bought him from his owner, the owner told me that he's 4 months old which makes his current age approximately 13 months old. But I doubt it, I think he's much older. The other buck is almost the same age as him. They rarely fight, that's the most wonderful thing about them.
All of them came here, with an exception for few, in somewhat poor condition. Severely underweight and underfed. With some extra food and proper medication, they have become the most beautiful/handsome goats I have ever seen.
For the first couple of months, they were kept in their pens with food catered to them everyday. They needed to be kept like that because I wanted them to familiarize themselves with the barn, the surrounding areas, the sound of tractors and people on the farm. The third month was when I gave them the freedom to roam around the farm area. The new animals that arrived after this period followed the existing herd almost autonomously, no need for crash course in getting used to the farm.
On most days, they would go out on the pasture as early as 10am. They would come back to the barn for a drink when the day is at its hottest. Just when the heat subsides and a bit bearable to the kids, they'd go out again grazing until it's almost dusk. They'd come back with full bellies and rest for the night. I usually give them a handful of goat pellets to each one of them and that's about it. No hay, no grains, just water for them to stay hydrated through the night.
I sometimes follow them out on the pasture. They seem to enjoy the company of each other, take turns jumping from a termite mound, do silly things as goats would. The kids are usually busy kidding around, the does graze the most. The bucks, they are always on the look out for does on heat.
I have two bucks in the group, both are equally responsible. Especially the older one, he usually calls out for the kids so that they won't miss or get lost from the group. He's very strong and athletic. As to date he has fathered around 25 kids altogether(not all of them survived though, but that will be in another story). I do not know his exact age. When I bought him from his owner, the owner told me that he's 4 months old which makes his current age approximately 13 months old. But I doubt it, I think he's much older. The other buck is almost the same age as him. They rarely fight, that's the most wonderful thing about them.
Wednesday 10 April 2013
Ini anak perempuan saya. Dia sedang cuba mengembala kambing menggunakan sebatang kayu pendek sebagai tongkat penggembala. Dia juga sangat sukakan kambing, terutamanya anak kambing.
The Farm
The farm is located in Kelantan. The total area is around 10 acres surrounded by a rubber plantation on one side and a swampy area on another. I used to work the land here as a 17 year-old, planting pineapples, lots of pineapples. But I didn't get to harvest a single fruit since I had to leave in a hurry for college. Years went by and I came back, the pineapples were gone, the undulating land has been reworked and converted into a cattle farm. The job offer came and I took it without any hesitation, all for the love for the animals.
The farm went on doing business for a good 9 profitable years. But as of late, the cattle industry in Malaysia is facing a bad prospect. If you should ask me who would I blame, I'd say the country's policy of not protecting small farmers by allowing the influx of imported beef from India, China, Australia, Sudan and Pakistan. Now that the farm is facing foreclosure, I can only hope that the owner will let me stay here, on this piece of land that I hold dear to my heart. The land that has been very good to me, teaching me the lesson of life under the merciless sun.
My only way out is to stay here and look after a small family of goats. The very first of these goats arrived here about 9 months ago. I gradually put in some more animals whenever I got a good deal from old folks who were no longer able to take care of their goats (opportunistic?). The animals came from various districts in Kelantan. Some of them never set foot on the ground and some of them have lived their previous lives by scavenging for food near dumpsters. Nonetheless, they got along just fine...
The farm went on doing business for a good 9 profitable years. But as of late, the cattle industry in Malaysia is facing a bad prospect. If you should ask me who would I blame, I'd say the country's policy of not protecting small farmers by allowing the influx of imported beef from India, China, Australia, Sudan and Pakistan. Now that the farm is facing foreclosure, I can only hope that the owner will let me stay here, on this piece of land that I hold dear to my heart. The land that has been very good to me, teaching me the lesson of life under the merciless sun.
My only way out is to stay here and look after a small family of goats. The very first of these goats arrived here about 9 months ago. I gradually put in some more animals whenever I got a good deal from old folks who were no longer able to take care of their goats (opportunistic?). The animals came from various districts in Kelantan. Some of them never set foot on the ground and some of them have lived their previous lives by scavenging for food near dumpsters. Nonetheless, they got along just fine...
The mother of all..
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate)
This will be the start of a new chapter in my life as a full-fledged goat farmer.
I shall be posting news and articles, pictures and videos pertaining to my goats. Please be warned that I might also, at times, be posting my random thoughts as a way to vent out the stress of the day.
A bit on my background; a father to one lovely daughter, a husband to a beautiful wife. Graduated with a degree in Finance & Marketing from an island continent. Loves a good hummus(yes you read it right; hummus not humor). Not a good writer. I only read non-fiction. I believe in hard work and I am not so good with faces. The single most important building block of any nations is the ability to produce their own food.
I hope that this new outlet will benefit anyone of us in one way or another.
This will be the start of a new chapter in my life as a full-fledged goat farmer.
I shall be posting news and articles, pictures and videos pertaining to my goats. Please be warned that I might also, at times, be posting my random thoughts as a way to vent out the stress of the day.
A bit on my background; a father to one lovely daughter, a husband to a beautiful wife. Graduated with a degree in Finance & Marketing from an island continent. Loves a good hummus(yes you read it right; hummus not humor). Not a good writer. I only read non-fiction. I believe in hard work and I am not so good with faces. The single most important building block of any nations is the ability to produce their own food.
I hope that this new outlet will benefit anyone of us in one way or another.
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