Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ During the 19th session of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization‘s Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture held in Italy, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera outlined the government’s ambitious plan to increase liquid milk production in Sri Lanka by 50 percent before 2030. To achieve this goal, the Ministry and the Animal Production and Health Department of Sri Lanka have already initiated various projects to address the challenge.
To boost liquid milk production, the Sri Lankan government has decided to implement two project proposals focused on developing large-scale dairy farms with over 500 cows. These projects will receive support from the Indian government, which has undertaken initiatives to introduce new technologies and facilitate an exchange program for dairy cows. Presently, Sri Lanka’s milk production meets only about 35 to 40 percent of the country’s demand. The government’s aim is to produce 50 percent of the required liquid milk by 2030.
A vital catalyst for this endeavor has been President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s vision and discussions with the Indian government to enhance the dairy industry in Sri Lanka. Approximately 60 percent of the country’s milk needs are met through imported milk powder, but to combat malnutrition and promote public health, there is a pressing need to increase the consumption of liquid milk. However, despite this necessity, the consumption of liquid milk in Sri Lanka has remained stagnant.
Following the discussions at the session, Minister Amaraweera met with Tanawat Tenzin, the Director General of the Animal Production and Health Department of Italy. The Minister expressed confidence that Sri Lanka’s dairy industry would achieve its 2030 target and highlighted the government’s plan to implement projects in a public-private partnership (PPP) model by collaborating with dairy processing companies and introducing innovative techniques in order to attract young individuals to the dairy sector.
Moreover, the Sri Lankan government has approached the Italian government, seeking financial and technical assistance to improve the local dairy sector. Additionally, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has also come forward to support these initiatives, further endorsing Sri Lanka’s efforts to achieve its ambitious liquid milk production target.
