The need to boost local fresh milk industry

Lionel GULAWITA

With the escalating prices of consumer goods including formula milk food, people are reminded of the need for policy alternatives for the reduction of milk food imports and increase in fresh milk production locally for the good and welfare of emerging generations.

Sri Lanka spends on a colossal milk food bill annually. Reportedly the government is moving ahead to bring some improvement importing hybrid stocks of cattle to augment the fresh milk production which is aid to be at 15-18 per cent of the country’s requirement.

However in order to accelerate the development, would also be absolutely appropriate to infuse private sector dynamism too into the milk industry.

For a long time the maternal health in the country in general was in a poor standard resulting most mothers being not in a position to breastfeed their babies for more than a couple of months due to lack of nutrition and engagement in their livelihood activity. The next best alternative to mother’s milk undisputedly is fresh milk.

Nutrient-rich

Use of milk in its natural form provides abundance of nutrients needed for health and body growth. They include a range of essentials including fat, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, proteins etc.

Vitamins A, D, E, K and many acids the body needs but cannot produce its own, is supplied in cow’s milk fat which is dispersed right through the milk globules. This and the pleasant taste and texture of fresh cow’s milk is its special character.

A variety of other milk products bringing the nutrition include yogurt, ice cream, chocolate and the like. One litre of milk is said to be equal to 21 eggs in calcium and 12 kg lean beef and 2.2 kg wheat bread.

Sri Lanka is endowed with abundance of lands amidst marvellous mountains and valleys. In the sprawling countryside ample expanse of hills and plains nestled in salubrious temperate climate await justice long overdue.

The land area under economic utilization is just a small percentage. Highland plains and valleys provide viable grounds for productive farmlands of high yielding dairy industry. Similarly in the dry zone too vast ideal land is available for dry zone cattle and goat farming.

Fresh milk has a regular countrywide consumer demand in every town and city. The expanded milk industry would open up opportunities for economic growth and creation of gainful employment.

With foreign direct investment (FDI) flow on dairy development, gradual and steady import cuts from milk food imports and investment on alternate dairy development could accelerate the fresh milk production and upsurge series of associated industries small and medium.

Walawe basin

Walawe basin in the South for instance possesses the viability for dairy development and variety of agricultural crops. Many milk farmers own herds of cattle for milk and graze them on the grass cover under mixed vegetation along Walawe banks.

As observed from several farm projects the available land owned mostly by smallholders could become workable grounds for dairy and crop husbandry.

Considering the immense possibilities for agricultural and livestock farm units irrigated wherever necessary by pumping water from the river Walawe could contribute to river basin development pursuits successfully in the area.

At present the farmers encounter difficulties finding grass during dry spells. This problem could be tackled by giving incentives to landowners of unutilized land for growing grass and forage plants.

Lack of daily collection centers for Walawe region is yet another obstacle they come across. They have to await Ambewela mobile bowsers to collect their produce.

Dairy industry is a prime employment generation field with many avenues for interconnected industries all of which could help improve economy and promote the standard of life of currently unemployed youth.

Thus the milk industry would gain strength, patronage and viability to become a mainstay in the economy. It would combat high unemployment rate in the country and ease the pressure of inflation.

Private investment in any field of activity is vital for the country. It is the ‘engine of growth’ with dynamism and innovation. For an effective investment culture some policy initiatives would be useful to enable new entrepreneurs to raise venture capital and technical and industrial know-how.

The rural youth could find gainful employment in their own villages without having to live in cities in congestion. Many countries which took to dairy farming could expanded their production and with increasing demand for milk products.

Promote lacto-Vegetarianism

The increased availability of fresh milk in the market could result in lesser consumption of fish and meat and thereby promote vegetarianism.

The kind of or approach to Industrialization plays a major role in the growth of economy.

Under Open Market Economy haphazard attempts to strictly control imports has its disadvantages and even failure as proved in many countries.

In the present world economic environment the Open Market approach appear more appropriate for Sri Lanka.

Soviet Union and Eastern Europe experimented with Central Planning for industrialization. They succeeded rapidly for some time but eventually slowed down the growth due to lack of drive and discipline and ran into crises.

Moora buffaloes are an important factor in the viability of dairy projects in Sri Lanka. Short-term imports of Mooras are of course needed but since we need Mooras in large number, Moora Breeding Centres island-wide would be a useful arrangement to supplement cow milk and the cost results in an affordable level.

Sri Lanka should also remember the effects of the 1997 South Asian economic crisis due to topping up excessive investment on State directed industries, issue of loans on political affiliations, preferential loans to individuals etc.

We should study the success stories from milk producing countries and implement best policy structures without resorting to gain all by ourselves through trial and experiment.

Though the haphazard import controls are discouraged, dynamic policy of Industrialisation would result in eventual substitution in many fields including the milk industry.

Government policy composition should further encourage private sector and individual investment on easy terms and with grater incentives to freely develop an investment culture in the country.

(The writer is a member of the Diriya Foundation)