CIC Agri, a subsidiary of CIC PLC is looking forward expand its dairy products that includes yoghurt, curd and fresh milk, beginning March this year.The company has leased two new 500 acre farms in Poonani and Mutuwella areas in the Eastern Province, for rearing cattle for milk production. The farm has the capacity to produce 4000 liters of milk (per day) from both farms. The farm consists of milk cattle and buffalos for milk and breeding.
Speaking to DM Business, Keerthi Kotagama CEO CIC Agri said "We leased the two farms in the eastern province, once it was liberated. The farms were in a bad state. Cattle were malnourished and were dying in large numbers. We turned around the farms and milk production is now in progress."
He further said that milk production will be increased in the near future with the involvement of 4000 farmers. USAID would pump a sum of USD 400 million for the program. CIC Agri collects around 2000 liters of milk per day from 1000 out grower farmers at present.
CIC Agri commissioned two new chilling plants investing Rs 30 million in each in the eastern province, and looks forward to commission 4 new chilling centers soon.
Explaining the reasons behind the expansion, Kotagama said "The demand for liquid milk is around 1 billion liters per annum in the country. Approximately 80 percent of the requirement is imported to the country. Therefore, there is a huge potential and also a national responsibility to produce this requirement locally, without wasting valuable foreign exchange."
CIC Agri Businesses also manages two of Sri Lanka's largest government-owned farms located at Hingurakgoda and Pelwehera..
source - www.dailymirror.lk
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