Sarawak's first mozzarella cheese plant in Merapok set to start production this August
LAWAS (May 15): The Green Valley Dairy Farm, Sarawak's pioneer cheese producer, is set to roll out its first batch of mozzarella cheese from its processing plant in Merapok here this August.
Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said this production will put the RM16-million facility located at the Meragang Buffalo Breeding Station on the international radar as a producer of quality buffalo milk mozzarella for international markets.
'This facility will position Lawas as the largest mozzarella cheese producer in the Southeast Asian region, targeting exports to European and regional markets.
'With financing from Agro Bank, the installation of this cheese processing equipment will begin this June, and production is targeted to come on stream in August,' he said after a working visit to the Meragang Buffalo Breeding Station on Wednesday.
Accompanying him were Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agong and Lawas Veterinary officer Robine Asut.
Dr Abdul Rahman added that the Meragang station will house over 700 Murrah buffaloes from Australia, including over 200 heads in the first phase.
'More than 200 Murrah buffaloes imported from Australia are currently being quarantined in Miri, and are expected to be brought to Lawas by the end of this month.
'Meanwhile, for the second phase, the Veterinary Department will receive more than 500 buffaloes of the same species by the end of the year, bringing the total number of buffaloes we expect being placed at the Meragang station close to 1,000,' he said.
Murrah buffaloes can produce between 16 litres to 20 litres of milk daily compared to the current paddy buffaloes, which produce less than six litres per day.
Mozzarella cheese is currently processed in Langkawi and is halal, as well as produced on a small scale in Selangor. The upcoming Lawas production will be the biggest in the country.
In view of this, the Green Valley Dairy Farm has linked up with potential buyers from the Middle East, Africa, and Europe for export of its mozzarella cheese products through the global trade network in Dubai. Green Valley Dairy Farm merapok Mozzarella cheese
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