The Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage told NewswaveLK that the production and consumption of liquid milk in the country is expected to increase by 80% by 2024.
Accordingly, we are ready to provide tax relief, low interest loans, land and all other necessary assistance to local investors who are focusing on dairy farming, the Minister said.
The Minister pointed out that by increasing the production of liquid milk locally and encouraging people to consume liquid milk, a large amount of money that is attracted to foreign countries for powdered milk could be saved annually.
“People in Sri Lanka need 720 million liters of liquid milk annually for consumption. However, the annual production of liquid milk in our country is around 420 million liters.
Out of them, our people consume very little. They also buy milk from rural dairy farmers and sell it to companies. Apart from that a program to encourage people to consume liquid milk will not be implemented.
I invite young people to open liquid milk outlets in major cities including Colombo. We are ready to provide all necessary assistance for that, ”he said.
“We have a doubt that the Department of Animal Production and Health has been working so far whether to raise milk production in the country or to increase the import of powdered milk. Dairy cows which were involved in dairy farming in the country in the recent past have not been able to reproduce. This is due to the shortage of artificial insemination officers. There are 600 such vacancies. We have talked to the Ministry of Finance this year and filled all those vacancies, ”he said.