Nestlé collects record 62 million litres of local fresh milk in 2013
Thursday, 30 January 2014 00:00
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Marks milestone by opening fresh milk chilling centre at Pudukuduirippu
Nestlé Lanka PLC, Sri Lanka’s largest private sector buyer of fresh milk, yesterday announced that it had procured its highest ever collection of 62 million litres of local milk in 2013, marking a 15% growth from 2012.
Currently procuring an average of 170,000 litres of fresh milk daily from 18,000 Sri Lankan farmers, the company has played an active role in developing the local dairy sector since the early 1980s, working closely with the local government and farmers over the years to help increase local fresh milk production and help make Sri Lanka become self-sufficient in fresh milk.
Identifying dairy production as a means of supporting economic and social progress in the north and east regions, Nestlé marked a milestone in its local dairy development initiatives by opening a fresh milk chilling centre in Pudukuduirippu, Mullaitivu recently, in the presence of Deputy Speaker of Parliament Chandima Weerakkody, Nestlé S.A. Executive Vice President and Zone Director for Asia, Oceania, Africa and Middle East – Nandu Nandkishore, Regional Market Head for Nestlé South Asia Etienne Benet and Managing Director of Nestlé Lanka Ganesan Ampalavanar.
“I’m happy to note that in line with the Mahinda Chinthana Development Policy Framework the company is now utilising 100% Sri Lankan fresh milk for its Nespray milk powder and other dairy based products. Nestlé’s success in dairy development is a result of the successful public-private partnership between the company and the Government and I’m happy that the local community is able to reap the benefits,” said Deputy Speaker Chandima Weerakkody.
In addition to the many awards and accolades Nestlé has won locally for its dairy development work in Sri Lanka, the company was recently recognised by UNGC (United Nations Global Compact), who highlighted its dairy development work as a best practice and exemplary case study in a global publication titled “Responsible Business Advancing Peace”, which was launched at the UNGC Leaders Summit in September this year.
“We have made intense and determined efforts to procure maximum quantities of fresh milk from the North and East to help develop these areas,” said Nestlé Lanka PLC Managing Director Ganesan Ampalavanar.
“We have established a milk collection network in the regions made up of collection points to provide farmers living in distant, rural areas easy access to sell their milk, and milk chilling centres to help farmers keep their milk fresh. These milk collection points are run by members of the local community rather than the company and provide another source of income generation for the area. We remain committed to sourcing locally as much as possible and to continue providing local consumers with access to nutritious food and beverages of the highest quality.”
Nestlé also conducts extensive farmer training and development programs; sharing technical expertise and best practices for quality assurance. Providing subsidies for artificial insemination and pasture plot development for cattle feed, the company further provides farmers assistance for milking, sterile handling and storage, animal husbandry techniques and for livestock breeding by distributing stud bulls.
