Modernizing dairy industry will create jobs, improve nutrition - Govt official | Sunday Observer

Modernizing dairy industry will create jobs, improve nutrition - Govt official

4 December, 2016
D. K. Renuka Ekanayake

Scientifically developing the dairy industry with support from the Netherlands will not only help meet rural and urban consumption needs, but create jobs and reduce under-nutrition among schoolchildren and the elderly as well, Secretary to the Ministry of Rural Economic Affairs, D. K. Renuka Ekanayake said.

“The Government believes that the dairy industry should move forward through public-private partnerships, and the government’s policy is quite liberal on development,” she said told a delegation from the Netherlands on investment opportunities in the dairy industry of Sri Lanka on Monday.

“Dairy farming has been identified as a key development area in the development agenda of the government.”

Ekanayake said Sri Lankan dairy figures fall below global norms, on par with those of most Central African, Eastern and South Eastern countries, but that the experience of the poultry industry augurs well and should be emulated.

“In the poultry industry, we have achieved remarkable development during the past couple of decades, and at present, we have realized maximum self-reliance. Dedicated poultry farmers have now ventured into foreign markets, taking advantage of the assurance of bird-flu-free status.”

Fresh milk consumption

Fresh milk consumption in Sri Lanka is only 17.51 kilograms per person, per year while per capita consumption of chicken is eight kilograms and eggs 104, Ekanayake said.

“It is, undoubtedly, a long-felt national need that Sri Lanka’s dairy industry and milk production is developed scientifically and enhanced on a higher scale to increase milk supply and satisfy the local demand on a sustainable basis,” she said.

“This will not only meet the consumption needs of families in the urban and rural areas, but will also will result in improvement of the quality of milk produced and will bring a variety of benefits in the form of sustainable livelihoods and satisfactory incomes to rural families engaged in dairy farming.” It will also contribute to improve the nutrition levels of the younger generation, with the enhancement of the quality of milk produced. The Ministry of Rural Economic Affairs is committed to accomplishing the goal of self-sufficiency in milk and milk-based products, as an important sector in the development of rural economy, Ekanayake said.

Rural development

“The rural economy depends mainly on agriculture. Livestock farming plays a significant role in the development of rural economy,” she said. “Thus, promotion and upgrading of dairy farming, particularly in a rural setting, is of great advantage to poor rural families.

“It is a well-known fact that a considerable percentage of schoolchildren and elders in the villages suffer from malnutrition. Employment generation via the dairy industry in the rural areas is another dividend.”

Ekanayake said her Ministry envisages self-sufficiency in milk, eggs and meat while being committed to reduction of malnutrition, and for poverty alleviation, primarily in the rural community, as a strategy for development of the rural economy.

Improving livestock technology

She suggested a Technical Co-operation Program be organized to share livestock technology of the Netherlands with the objective of developing dairy farming in Sri Lanka on a commercial footing.

“The support to be extended under this initiative will go a long way, strengthening the capacity of the Department of Animal Production and Health under this Ministry, and streamlining the extension services,” Ekanayake said.

The Ministry of Rural Economic Affairs has identified the need for comprehensive training for Veterinary Surgeons and Livestock Development Instructors and looks forward to a collaborative training arrangement with a dairy training institute in the Netherlands, enabling Sri Lankan students to receive training in dairy development based on modern technological research findings.

“Training in marketing and product diversification is another important area that has been identified, and we hope that this initiative will contribute positively towards this,” she said.

She also suggested that a program for research collaboration be initiated. 

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