According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance and Planning,  the government is planning to import 2500 dairy cows at a cost of US$ 20.7 million.

According to the media release,   the government has given high priority to increase the local milk production to cater to local consumption requirements. However the government,  notes that acute shortage of dairy animals has hampered the government effort.

The release adds that the government earlier imported 2,000 high-yield cows to the National Livestock Development Board (NLDB) farm complex in Bopaththalawa. The Ministry of Finance and Planning notes that due to the success of this programme, the government has given the green light to import a further 2500 cows and set up a new state of the art facility to house these dairy cows.

A loan of over 20.7 million US Dollars has been obtained from the Rabobank of Netherlands and the Export Finance Insurance Corporation of Australia for this purpose..

Est. in 1992, Bopathalawa Farm is home to 2,000 high yield cows

Dairy farmers in Sri Lanka

According to the Central Bank’s annual report of 2013 total national milk production increased by 6.8 per cent to 319.8 million litres in 2013 against a 16.9 per cent decline in milk powder. The Government aims to achieve self sufficiency in milk by 2016

Milk collection of large processors increased their milk collection 200.3 million litres in 2013.The NLDB imported 1,500 hybrid milk cows in 2013 with a potential of 20 liters per cow per day.

Image courtesy : NLDB

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