Incentive for dairy farmers

P. P. G. Sugathadasa, Thihagoda group corr.

WITIYALA: The Southern Provincial Council has initiated measures to develop dairy industry in the region. Under the proposed development programme, dairy farming villages are to be set up at Grama Niladhari division level in the Matara district.

The programme has already got underway in Witiyala and Karagodauyangoda Grama Niladari divisions in the electoral division of Kamburupitiya, spokesman for the SPC Department of Animal Productions revealed.

SPC Department of Animal Production and Health is expecting to extend such projects to other parts in the Matara district, such as Hakmana, Weligama, Devinuwara and Matara. It is envisaged to enhance marketing facilities for the products manufactured by the dairy farmers.

Rural and urban milk collecting centers, milk chilling centers and sales outlets would also be set up under the programme, the spokesman said.

In addition, hybrid milk cows are to be given to cattle farmers to enhance their milk production. SPC would fund all those dairy development activities in the region. Necessary instructions and technical know-how are also to be given by the department, the spokesman said.

On the instructions of SPC Minister of Agriculture Hemal Gunasekara, these projects are under way in the region at the moment.