CIC keen on increasing milk production
CIC Agri Businesses Managing Director and CEO Keerth B Kotagama said
CIC is keen on enhancing liquid milk consumption and increasing the milk
production in the country.
Keerth B Kotagama |
He said with the acquisition of CIC Mahaweli Livestock and Dairies (Pvt)
Ltd in the Eastern province last year, the company is producing 5,000
litres of fresh milk per day.
The company expects to produce 20,000 litres of fresh milk per day in
three years. The company started producing yoghurt, curd and milk
lollies for a few trial markets in the Eastern province and the
company’s initiative was well received by the customers.
With the success in the trial markets CIC Agri Business is now
planning on expanding the yoghurt business while introducing it to all
Sri Lankan consumers by March 2011. The company also expects to re-brand
the product with an investment of over Rs 30 million. “Our focus is
mainly Sri Lanka as we want to help the country to be self-sufficient in
milk. According to the demand that we will receive for yoghurt the
company would gradually expand its business in value added products. Sri
Lanka has a one billion-litre milk requirement at present. However, the
country imports 80 percent of the milk requirement while spending over
Rs 18 to 20 billion per year on imported milk powder,” Kotagama said.
“To cater to the high demand and achieve the targets we have to work
along with the outgrowers as well. CIC Agri Business is closely working
with the outgrowers. At present there are over 1,200 outgrowers and it
will be increased to 3,000 in the near future. The company has generated
direct job opportunities for people who are engaged in dairy production
and have provided indirect opportunities in other areas too,” he said.
The company is keen on enhancing the milk production in Sri Lanka. By
increasing the number of livestock plants and encouraging people that
are engaged in the dairy farm industry Sri Lanka can save a large sum of
foreign exchange and at the same time sustain the country’s demand for
milk as well, Kotagama said.
C de S |