Crash program to popularise liquid milk

By Ananda Wedaarachchi

A crash program to popularise the use of liquid milk will be launched by Milco (Pvt) Ltd under the directives of the Minister of Livestock Development C. B. Ratnayake to overcome the shortage of milk powder and the increasing prices.

Milco has already strengthened the milk collecting mechanism throughout the Island. Milco buys fresh milk from milk farmers and farmer societies at its 72 milk chilling centres.

Milco will set up liquid milk selling centres in the Island. The Chairman - Milco (Pvt) Ltd H. M. K. B. Hellarawe said that the relevant newspaper advertisements have already been published and the response for obtaining the accreditation to sell liquid milk is encouraging. A few decades ago India also faced the same milk crisis. At present India is self-sufficient in liquid milk and milk powder.

Liquid milk is a popular drink in India and it is freely available in cities and villages. India does not export milk powder.

The "Nagenahira Navodaya" "Dairy Villages" will be set up and cattle from jungles will be used to obtain fresh milk under the project to develop the Eastern Province.

Hellarawe said that under the "Dairy Villages" program - all unutilized resources for dairy farming specially in the Eastern, Southern, North Central, North Western, Uva and Central Provinces will be utilised for livestock development by the ministry.

The milk powder industry in the world has faced a very difficult situation due to the adverse climatic conditions in producing countries.

One of the major milk producing country, Australia was hit by a severe drought last year causing the deaths of a large number of cattle. The Government has abolished taxes on milk powder, incurring a loss of Rs. 3 billion annually to maintain the present milk powder prices.