KUCHING: Sarawak is expected to export eggs to Singapore soon, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas today.
He said the Singapore Food Agency had inspected several layer poultry farms here and Samarahan last year.
"Our industry players are using high techonology production system to enhance productivity and efficiency.
"We are also free of Avian flu. Thus, there is great demand for our eggs overseas. This is our advantage against competitors in the region," he said.
Uggah, who is also the Minister for Agriculture Modernisation, Native Land and Regional Development said Sarawak has 45 layer farms with a combined layer population of 3.3 million heads and estimated to have produced 850 million eggs.
"The total amount of eggs exported last year was 48 million pices valued at RM13.5 million.
Out of the total, 20.34 million eggs were exported to Hong Kong and 27.72 million to Indonesia," he said, adding that Sarawak had reached self-sufficient level in terms of chicken eggs.
Speaking after a visit to Lian Hua Seng Livestock Sdn Bhd off 17th Mile Kuching - Serian Road yesterday, he said the company, which utilises state-of-the-art grading technology to ensure eggs produced are accurately graded and disinfected (UV sterilisation treatment), is one of the top eggs suppliers in the state.
It produces 180,000 eggs daily and expects to increase to 450,000 pieces with its expansion plan.
For the Singapore market, the company plans to export its premium selenium-enriced eggs.
"We have seen over the last five years the increasing trend toward exporting among local players and we still have vast potential to go further.
"So, I hope the industry will grow and adopt modern technology to enhance our production and competitiveness," he said.
Last year, Sarawak had exported 257.5 metric tonne of poultry broiler to Indonesia worth RM1.86 million, he added.