US assistance increases milk supply

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) through its economic development project has established a dairy farmer network in Punani, Batticaloa. USAID partnered with the CIC Mahaweli Livestock and Dairy, a subsidiary of the CIC Agribusiness Ltd., to launch a new yoghurt and curd factory at the Siddhapura farm in Punani, Batticaloa.

The USAID-funded Connecting Regional Economies project joined hands, with CIC Agribusiness Ltd, to form a dairy farmer network of 350 farmers in Welikanda, Polonnaruwa district, and Punani in Batticaloa district. This network will supply milk to the new yoghurt and curd factory. CIC hopes to expand the factory in the future.

The dairy farmer networks will also be strengthened to restore the dairy value chain in the Eastern Province.