Fonterra invests Rs.117 m in Lanka’s first demonstration and training farm

Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka yesterday strengthened commitment to boost the dairy industry with an investment of Rs.117 million to build and operate the country’s first demonstration and training farm in Pannala.

The facility is scheduled to be opened next month by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key during his visit to Sri Lanka.

Fonterra Brands said during the past two years it has invested over Rs. 380 million for the development of the local dairy industry and is committed to working with partners to increase milk production and quality and farmer incomes.

The Pannala facility which is fully funded and operated by Fonterra, will train around 2,000 farmers, with 180 days dedicated to training. The farm will include a milk shed, training centre, free stall barns, milk chilling facilities and fodder cultivation area. The facility is built on a 25 year extended lease land. 

Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka Managing Director, Leon Clement said Sri Lanka was an important market for the firm though the dairy industry is at an emerging stage.

He said Fonterra’s focus is on trying to make a difference by developing a strong and resilient dairy farming community which is more profitable and sustainable. 

 “We are seeing a positive change in the Sri Lankan dairy industry with the Government making a meaningful difference. We believe we can help accelerate this change through consistent investment in training and infrastructure to improve farming practices and animal health,” he added.

Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka will continue to scale up its investment in country’s dairy industry with plans to increase its current network of Supplier Relationship Officers (SROs) to 40, and to build an additional three demonstration and training farms by 2017.

The company expects that these efforts would result in providing opportunity for an additional 2,000 Sri Lankan farmers to supply Fonterra, helping to uplift the income of farmers’ countrywide.

Highlighting that the firm has over 100 years of dairy farming experience and its co-operative structure is built on innovation, an attitude of working together and a willingness to try new things, the Fonterra Brands Sri Lanka Co-Operative Affairs Director Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage said they intend to bring the same concept to Sri Lanka.

“This is a model we want to introduce in Sri Lanka working with partners and farming communities to create a more sustainable and economically viable local dairy industry,” he noted.   

Commenting on Fonterra’s on-farm program Head of Extension, Training and Partnerships Mik Harford said it is made up of a number of key pillars of dairy development in Sri Lanka which includes fodder, advanced animal nutrition, animal welfare, milk quality management and farm business management.

The firm has also committed to support the local dairy community and since launching its Grass Roots Fund in 2014, the dairy co-operative has contributed Rs.15 million towards 16 projects in five communities.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara