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| Tuesday, 18 May 2004 |
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$ 125m spent annually on imports: Self-sufficiency in milk within Lanka's reach by Shirajiv Sirimane Sri Lanka spends US $125 million annually to import milk powder. This is 80% of the total local milk consumption.
In contrast to Sri Lanka, India has reached self-sufficiency in milk production mainly due to the government's intervention and patriotic approach adopted by their citizens. The government has imposed a 147 percent duty on imported milk while it is zero tax in Sri Lanka. Due to this the price of milk is the cheapest in the region. Most countries which export milk to Sri Lanka send it as a by-product. The fresh milk is first used to make cheese and butter and it is basically the left over that is exported in powdered form. Most of the liquid milk under foreign brand names is sold after adding water to the powder in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has enough cattle to produce milk for the country, specially in the East and other areas. However, most Sri Lankans still prefer using powdered milk which is freely available. "What Sri Lanka needs to do to be self-sufficient in milk is the change of attitude of the people. Sri Lanka must buy fresh milk," he said. However cattle farmers are faced with many problems. Firstly they do not get an adequate price for a litre of milk which is sold for around Rs. 20. This low price has prompted many to stay away from the industry. Another problem faced by them is the lack of storage facilities and a mode of transport. Farmers do not have access to the technology to keep milk for more than one day and at times they are forced to sell their product even at a lower price. Former Minister of Fisheries Mahinda Rajapakse introduced a mini mobile fridge for long preservation of fish. Similarly, the government should introduce new technology for the transportation and long life of the dairy farmers. The Ambewela farm produces powdered and fresh milk and they will also introduce a one litre fresh milk pack to the market soon. Many other companies such as MILCO and Kotmale too produce fresh milk and the demand for fresh milk is growing. "If this trend continues Sri Lanka can seriously think of reaching self-sufficiency," he said. |
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Produced by Lake House |
According to A. Wickramanayake, Chairman, National Lifestock
Development Board there is no tax on the import of powdered milk to Sri
Lanka.
