BY SHAZAZAQ’ WAN SHAFAIN
KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with The Holstein Milk Company Sdn Bhd (THMSB) to set up a Center for Excellence for Dairy Farming Industry (UPM-ICoE Dairy Farm).
UPM Vice Chancellor, Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris said that this MoA will help to improve the infrastructure of the Dairy Unit, University’s Agricultural Park (TPU), UPM.
“An estimated grant of RM15 million from THMSB will be able to help develop the infrastructure, the improvement and transfer of technology as well as the dairy production in UPM,” she said.
She also added that the Dairy Unit, TPU, UPM will be upgraded from 40 to 60 hectares from its original area of nine hectares.
THMSB Managing Director Loi Tuan said that UPM-ICoE Dairy Farm has become the pioneer for the purpose of teaching and learning, research and expertise in managing the country’s dairy industry.
“The ten-year MoA with UPM will enable both parties to develop UPM-ICoE Dairy Farm so that the livestock sector in Malaysia will be more innovative and supportive in the development of The National Dairy Organisation targeted in 2018,” he remarked.
The Deputy Head of Secretary (DASAR) of the Ministry of Agriculture & Agro-Based Industry, Dato’ Mohd Sallehuddin Hassan was also in attendance.
THMSB which has won the title of the most skilled company at the Asian Livestock 2015 Exhibition, and making use of the brand name, Farm Fresh, is the leading company that has been appointed by the Malaysian government to develop the country’s fresh milk industry.
Besides that, THMSB possesses two dairy farms in Kota Tinggi, Johor and Bandar Muadzam Shah, Pahang, as well as a tropical dairy cow breed farm production in Australia. – UPM
