VIDEO: No market for liquid milk in Sri Lanka; changes need to be made
August 21, 2013 02:02 pm
Sri Lanka does not have a liquid
milk market in order for it to serve as an alternative to the milk powder
problems as the supply is unable to meet even the current demand, the Government
Veterinary Officers Association stated today (August 21).
Speaking at a press
conference held today in Colombo, Chairman of the GVOA, Dr. Hemali Kotalawala said
that in order to set up a market for liquid milk, government intervention as
well as a government policy is necessary.
She pointed out that India
manages to supply fresh milk to all 28 of its states despite fresh milk being
produced in only a handful of states. She stated that this was achieved through
a well-placed distribution and sales policy.
Dr. Kotalawala added that these
objectives could be achieved in Sri Lanka with steps such as to provide
refrigeration facilities, loan facilities for farmers and tax concessions.
The daily milk production
in Sri Lanka is about 900,000 litres while only around 20% of it is sold as liquid
milk while the rest of the produce is sold to milk powder companies or used to
produce other milk-based goods.
The Secretary of the GVOA, Dr. B.M.M. Ekanayake highlighted the serious shortage of veterinarians in the country, citing that there are around 1.6 million cattle farmers in Sri Lanka with 1.2 million cows and 400,000 buffalos while there are only 303 veterinarians to provide services to them.
