• Climate change-resistant, high-yielding cattle breeding, cattle import, pvt. sector concessionary purchase considered 

Officials in the livestock sector have warned that the lack of water and feed for cattle and buffaloes in the prevailing drought condition will have a severe impact on the country’s milk production.

During a recent meeting between livestock sector officials and Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, the need to take steps to increase milk production in the country was discussed.

Officials pointed out that while the country’s milk production was 505 million litres last year (2022), 560 million litres of milk has been produced so far this year (2023).

However, they said that the lack of water and feed for cattle and buffaloes caused by the prevailing dry weather conditions would have a serious impact on milk production.

In response, Amaraweera instructed the Department of Animal Production and Health to commence research to introduce a Sri Lankan breed of cattle that can withstand various climatic conditions. He also said that steps should be taken to introduce a breed of cattle that produces more milk, as a breed of cattle that is resistant to that area has already been introduced in the Uppuveli farm.

Officials also pointed out that there are 753,510 cattle in the country, including 587,600 domestic cattle and 165,910, that belong to improved breeds, but that there is a need for a large number of cattle to increase the local milk production up to 750 million litres per year.

The initiation of discussions to get cattle from India or Pakistan at the diplomatic level, purchasing cattle from private sector farms at concessional prices, and allocating the necessary provisions to purchase them were discussed during the meeting as solutions to the shortage of cattle.

Meanwhile, officials of several Government and private dairy industry-related institutions had recently requested Amaraweera to suspend the import of milk powder as local production is at a higher level. Amaraweera said at that time that he would present a detailed report on local milk production to the Cabinet of Ministers and that a decision would then be made regarding the request.