The Government of New Zealand has expressed its support for enhancing Sri Lanka’s dairy industry, according to Hon. David Pine, the High Commissioner of New Zealand, in Sri Lanka.
The announcement was made during a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industry, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, held on the 30th at the ministry.
Key officials, including Mr Janaka Dharmakeerthi, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, attended the event.
Minister Amaraweera highlighted the significant challenge Sri Lanka faces in meeting its local milk requirements, with about 60% still reliant on imports.
He emphasized the necessity of introducing new technology and importing high-quality semen to boost milk production domestically.
High Commissioner Pine assured that the New Zealand government is prepared to provide the required technical support for Sri Lanka’s milk production.
He stated that measures would be coordinated with the New Zealand government to implement these initiatives effectively.
Despite being largely self-sufficient in most animal products, he noted that Sri Lanka struggles with dairy production.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that the country’s dairy consumption has surged since the 1970s, following the adoption of open economic policies.
Currently, Sri Lanka produces approximately 40% of its milk demand domestically, heavily depending on imports to fill the gap.
In a related effort to achieve dairy self-sufficiency, India’s National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), and Cargills of Sri Lanka entered into a joint venture last year.
This partnership aimed to make Sri Lanka self-sufficient in dairy within a decade, with NDDB and GCMMF holding a majority stake.
GCMMF was tasked with managing commercial aspects such as marketing and branding, while NDDB focused on sector development, including setting up cooperatives, breeding, fodder, and nutrition.
Additionally, Nestlé Lanka and the Commercial Bank of Ceylon have partnered to promote sustainable dairy farming in Sri Lanka.
This collaboration aims to provide dairy farmers with concessional financing, allowing them to expand operations, increase milk yields, and adopt regenerative agricultural practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The partnership introduced a value chain financing program to support Sri Lankan dairy farmers.
The Commercial Bank is also focusing on community development initiatives like enhancing financial literacy and technical awareness among dairy farmers, uplifting their livelihoods, and promoting sustainable farming practices.
It aims to positively impact nearly 300 dairy farmers and the environment, with 25 farmers benefitting from the initial phase rollout.
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