President instructs officials to implement plans to meet local demand for liquid milk

The President had stressed on the need to improve grass cultivation, dairy cow breeding, and research institute services in order to achieve the set targets expeditiously.

President Rajapaksa made these remarks during a discussion held at the Presidential Secretariat on Monday (14) on the future activities of the State Ministry of Livestock Farm Promotion and Dairy and Egg Related Industries.

Less than 40% of the country’s annual liquid milk requirement is produced locally.

As a result, people are deprived of the opportunity to consume nutritious fresh liquid milk.

The President has pledged to increase liquid milk production in the next decade in his National Policy Framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’.

The Government intends to expand the research activities that would help in introducing new breeds of dairy cattle suitable for different geographical areas of the country, said the President's Media Division.

During this meeting, the cultivation of high-quality grasses and cattle feed production to increase the production of milk was discussed at length.

Small scale dairy farmers provide 85% of the total liquid milk production said Basil Rajapaksa, the Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival.

Measures have been taken to rear 15,000 milking cows with the assistance of 15 estate companies with the aim of increasing the dairy production, Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage said.

Expanding the production of chicken and eggs and diverting large scale producers to the export market was also discussed during the meeting. Investors of the private sector said they anticipate foreign exchange earnings of USD 16 million in 2020 by exporting eggs, chicken and related products.