MALAYSIA-AUSTRALIA IN GOAT BREEDING JT VENTURE

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia, which is the biggest importer of goats from Australia, will soon sign an agreement with Down Under to jointly develop the goat breeding industry here.

Agriculture and Agrobased Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said
the agreement would be signed by the end of the week.

He said the agreement would cover all aspects in the goat breeding
development programme, including technical support and research and development
(R&D).

"The prospects are big for development in the breeding sector, especially
in the breeding of goats, so we are very keen to develop this industry in
the country with support from Australia," he said.

Mustapa was speaking to reporters after launching the 'Sustainability of
the Agribusiness Industry in Malaysia' seminar at the Malaysia Agro Exposition
Park (Maeps) in Serdang near here Monday.

He said the initiative for the joint goat breeding venture with Australia
was taken because the country had a lot of experience and advantages in the
field.

In a related development, the minister said Malaysia was also cooperating
in the supply of beef and mutton, besides research and development in the
breeding industry.

Asked if Malaysia would be ready to become an exporter of mutton in the
near future, Mustapa said priority was given to cater for domestic needs,
whereby according to calculations, the country would only be able to cater to
25.6 per cent of the total needs in 2015.