Govt aims to boost local dairy production; Unused NLDB lands for dairy farms

COLOMBO (News 1st): The Government has taken two decisions to encourage local farmers, Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said at a Cabinet media briefing today (07).

It is planned to take over the unused lands already owned by the Livestock Development Board and develop them as dairy farms on a lease basis in order to increase the production of liquid milk locally.

The Minister of Agriculture, Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that 60% of milk powder in the country is currently imported.

He said the country imports milk powder valued at USD 1 million per day and the cost per year is over USD 365 million.

Moreover, he stated that the President had called on the public to move away from the import-dependent economy to a productive economy with a view to prosperity.

The Minister added that he hopes foreign investors will collaborate with four local investors to import 4,800 heifers and increase the number of heifers in the country to 25,000 in five years, as a move to boost local dairy production.