Lanka to achieve self-sufficiency in milk products soon

by P.Krishnaswamy

Milco (Pvt) Ltd Chairman Sunil Wickramasinghe said that following the initiative by the Ministry of Livestock and Rural Development, the country will achieve self-sufficiency in milk products before long, saving millions of rupees spent on imports.

He was speaking to the Sunday Observer on the current controversy regarding the detection of toxic chemicals in imported milk powder. While Dicyanamide (DCD) was found in virtually all brands of imported milk powder, Highland milk powder, one of Milco's products has been cleared of any toxic chemicals. Wickramasinghe said that they get their products tested at regular intervals to ensure that they do not contain any hazardous chemicals.

As a first step towards achieving self-sufficiency in milk, the Ministry is importing high-yielding, high breed milch cows from Australia. Five thousand milch cows are due to arrive this week, Wickramasinghe said. The second and third generation of all imported milch cows, which give an average of 15 - 20 litres of milk, per day will be distributed among 55,000 dairy farmers, as an additional incentive. The Rs.50 per litre paid to farmers is a good incentive, he said.

In four years, the country would produce 800,000 litres of milk per day compared to the present 120,000 litres. Milco has already set up 25 farmer-managed societies in Mullaitivu, Oddusuddan, Kilinochchi and Mallavi. The number of such societies will be increased to 400 throughout the Northern province, Wickramasinche said. At present there are 2,000 such societies in the country, he said.