Incentives for cattle owners will help meet 50% of milk requirements - Consultant

by Lalin Fernandopulle

"Sri Lanka will be able to meet 50 percent of its milk requirements in the next 3-5 years if the Government helps small cattle owners and encourages the private sector to invest on commercial dairy farms, said Consultant to the Ministry of Livestock Development Dr. S. L. A. Daniel.

He said the present milk production could be increased by 20 percent if the cattle are properly taken care of and if farmers are provided training on good agricultural practices and techniques.

The Government should provide incentives and land now available in the East to develop the livestock industry.

Dairy village models should be set up with more openings for the private sector to invest and training given to farmers on clean milk production. The country has over 200,000 small milk farmers.

Liquid milk is not only nutritious but also easy to produce. The country spends billions of rupees to import 60,000mt of milk powder annually. A metric ton of milk powder costs US$ 5,000.

Dr. Daniel said the climate is not a main reason that determines milk production but good production systems to suit our climate are necessary.

Chairman, Pelwatte Dairy, Ariyaseela Wickremanayake said we have enough cows in the country and if the Government provides incentives to cattle owners and help them to sell their produce at a better price the country will soon be self-sufficient in milk.

He said the Government should enact laws to reduce the number of cows slaughtered and encourage cattle owners in the country to increase milk production and make the industry economically viable.

"Slaughtering cows should be considered a criminal act and stern action should be taken against those who slaughter such cattle. Over 4,000 cows are slaughtered daily", Wickremanayake said.

We must put an end to the import of cheap products which we have been importing for over 50 years and start producing food", he said.

Wickremanayake said increasing milk production and curtailing imports is the only way to get over the present milk food crisis in the country. India, Australia, New Zealand, UK and US are self-sufficient in milk food and since they produce enough milk they are able to export the excess in powder form.

The Government must come up with an agriculture friendly policy to increase local food production and reduce the huge amounts spent annually on importing food, he said.

Cattle owners in Ampara, Yala, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Udawalawe should be supported so that they could feed their cows well and take care of them.

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