Fonterra backs new dairy cooperation agreement between New Zealand and Sri Lanka, in which Fonterra expected to increase New Zealand's dairy development investment in Sri Lanka over next 10 years

Nevin Barich

Nevin Barich

SRI LANKA , November 18, 2013 () – Fonterra welcomed a new Dairy Cooperation Arrangement between the New Zealand Government and Sri Lankan Government signed by Sri Lankan Minister for External Affairs G.L. Peiris and New Zealand Minister for Foreign Affairs Murray McCully on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Colombo.

Fonter ra Director and farmer-shareholder John Monaghan, who was in Colombo representing Fonterra at t he Commonwealth Business Forum earlier this week, said the agreement will help formalise and support further public and private sector dairy sector cooperation between the two countries.

Monaghan said as Fonterra expands its business in Sri Lanka the Cooperative is looking at ways it can significantly increase local milk collection to build on its commitment to the local dairy industry.

"Within the framework of this agreement, Fonterra is looking to invest in model farms to both train local farmers as well as provide a sustainable milk source for Fonterra's fresh dairy business; invest in more milk collection centres around the country to enhance quality milk collection and build on the Farmer Education and Development programme to ensure more farmers are producing larger volumes of high quality milk."

Fonterra began collecting milk from Sri Lankan dairy farmers in 1997 to support the development of a yoghurt business in Sri Lanka under the Anchor Newdale brand. In the same year the Cooperative launched a farmer development programme designed to help farmers up skill in the areas of milk quality, production and sustainability.

Building on this, in 2013 the Fonterra Farmer Education and Training Programme was launched. During the course of the three year programme, participants learn a range of new skills including how to detect and treat the early stages of mastitis; implement best practice farm health and safety practices and understand more about on-farm milk quality improvement techniques. Leon Clement, Managing Director for Fonterra Brands Lanka said that by working with local farmers to improve the quality of their milk, Fonterra has managed to grow local milk collection to 30,000 litres of locally produced fresh milk, every day. Published by HT Syndication with permission from Daily Mirror Sri Lanka. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com

(c) 2013 Daily Mirror

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