Dairy farmers to get 20,000 milch cows

Friday, 17 October 2014 00:44 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

New deal signed with Australia to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in liquid milk

Sri Lanka and Australia yesterday signed an agreement to import 20,000 milch cows for uplifting small- and medium-scale dairy farmers under a program to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in liquid milk by 2016. Importing Australian milch cows of superior breeds to help dairy farmers and improve the livestock industry began two years ago in accordance with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Mahinda Chinthana Vision. Under the program 2000 milch cows were imported in 2012. Through artificial insemination, these cows gave birth to 1500 calves which were distributed among dairy farmers in the Dry Zone. Its tremendous success led to the decision to import a further 20,000 cows. Economic Development Ministry Secretary Dr. Nihal Jayatilleke and Australian Wellard Exports Director Scott Braithwaita signed the agreement. Present at the occasion were Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Australian High Commissioner Robyn Mudie, the Economic Development Ministry’s Additional Secretary Priyantha Mayadunne and Australian representatives Karin Kobelentz, Colin Webb and Johann Wasserman. Sri Lanka currently produces only 42% of its milk requirements. The country has to spend annually $ 300 m to import the balance 58%. Since this Government came to power in 2005 the production of liquid milk has increased by 128 million litres up to 2013. It is a 56% increase. At present the registered number of dairy farmers in Sri Lanka is 238,321 while the number of small-scale unregistered farmers is nearly 100,000. Livestock experts believe that if 30,000 milch cows can be milked, the country will become self-sufficient in liquid milk. According to Sri Lanka’s animal and health product reports, the country’s daily milk consumption per person is 134 millilitres. Importing milch cows of superior breeds, building cattle sheds, expanding grasslands, giving special credit facilities to dairy farmers and promoting milk production are being done under the Divi Neguma National Program.