President plans to meet domestic liquid milk demand
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed officials to implement a short-term and long-term plan in collaboration with the public, private sectors and small-scale farmers to meet the local demand for liquid milk.
The President stressed 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 yesterday (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.
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. ‘They should be strengthened and steps should be taken to increase the percentage’, said Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, the Head of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival. Farmers are discouraged due to the rising cost of production per liter of milk. Mr. Basil Rajapaksa pointed out the need to provide dairy farmers cattle feed including grasses under concessionary rates. It was pointed out that farmers should be encouraged at the institutional level to produce animal feed needed for both the public and private sector.
While highlighting the importance of involvement of the Central Environmental Authority in resolving issues related to animal husbandries, the President said that these measures should not be a burden on the farmer.
Mr. Basil Rajapaksa said animal farms run traditionally should not be closed down based on complaints by the public without conducting an investigation.
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.
Secretary to the President P. B. Jayasundera, Secretaries to Cabinet and State Ministries, heads of line institutes and several private-sector investors were also present during the meeting.
(President’s Media)
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Please stop reading a paragraph every day from the “Vistas of Prosperity”.
The Officers and the Voters don’t listen to the daily briefing.
Covid 19 has reversed the economy that was dilligently built by RWs UNP.
Tourism has disappeared and foreign remittances are near zero.
There is no money with the Govt and the Public to fund development.
Only way is to handover the island to the Chinese Communist Party.
Agree with your sentiments Leila.
The Politicians continue to preach from their Manifestos with zero leadership on funding and economic issues.
The Public Servants are deaf; they do not listen; they are obsessed with only the perks of office.
Moreover, when a Project is started, the Politicians get involved in the nitty-gritty to ensure their supporters enjoy a piece of the pie.
Both, the Politicians and the Public Servants, are not aware of their roles and boundaries and do not care about the outcomes to the Nation.
Hey Leila,
Are you just an anti Rajapakse’s or are you ignorrant. Deligently built economy my a—.
In which way did he develop the economy? Is it by robbing the Central Bank.
Obviously you don’t give a dam for for SL. You are just angry that Ranil has lost his power. The people have voted for the current president so just keep your opinions to your self because they don’t make any seance.
Dear Stanley,
I am not fighting with you, Giant Stanley.
I worked in SL’s Public Service for 45 years and retired.
My EPF savings were stolen by gambling Politicians and their catchers between 2010-2015.
I am left penniless in my retirement.
Between 2015-2019, there was a concerted push to develop the economy on analytical strategies. It bore fruit.
There is an accusation of ‘Bond Scam’; the leader of the Nation personally signed of 20,000 pages of ‘evidence’ and sent to Singapore; no avail.
If the ‘Bond Scam’ is real, why isn’t the powerful Govt of SL pursuing the accused, day and night?