Pelwatte to upgrade Sri Lanka dairy farmers with global training providers 

Pelwatte Dairy is to upgrade the dairy farmers in Sri Lanka in collaboration with global training providers.

The initiative aims to develop a well-equipped dairy training centre and to improve the herd with modern breeding techniques. A cornerstone of the project is to develop dairy farmers’ infrastructure to comply with Good Dairy Farming Practices introduced by the World Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Pelwatte Dairy Industries Farm Manager Chamila Rajapaksha said: “The Pelwatte Dairy Training Program aims to develop a well-equipped dairy training centre in collaboration with international dairy training service providers. The existing farms will be enhanced as a cattle breeding farm to supply high quality breeding materials to the Sri Lankan dairy farmers.  “There is little doubt that quality training and awareness provision on such aspects as high yield dairy breeding and livestock management are essential inputs to update farmers’ knowledge in par with the rest of the industry and global trends. 

“Regular knowledge updates are essential not only on breeding techniques but even on dairy quality maintenance and preservation, feeding and wellbeing of the cattle Most importantly, the world is increasingly embracing sustainability, and it is time our committed farmers learn to adopt the best practices in this regard. The Pelwatte Dairy Training Project aims to fill such knowledge gaps as well.”

The Good Dairy Farming Practices of the World Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) addresses such farming aspects as milking hygiene, animal health, nutrition (feed and water), sensitive animal husbandry practices, environment concerns, and ensuring sustainability with socioeconomic management. Among these, Pelwatte is moving forward first with milking, addressing environment concerns and training.