The Hon. Rohana Bandara

¶ 01 Mr. Deputy Speaker, I second the motion.

¶ 02 The livestock sector can address unemployment, provide self-employment, and contribute to finance. We have achieved some successes, e.g., meeting our fish needs and, pre-COVID, substantially meeting egg needs, improving nutrition. Dairy production had reached about 10 million litres monthly against a 15 million litre requirement, but COVID and policy issues set us back. Key issues include price volatility, unfair prices relative to costs, rejections of milk collection, fodder shortages, and conflicts with protected areas. Traditional dairy farmers near sanctuaries like Wilpattu now struggle: when animals stray into reserves, recovering them is prohibited. There must be coordinated management across Wildlife, Forest, and Livestock authorities.

¶ 03 Fodder access is crucial. Historically, dairy farmers relied on adjacent forests and grasslands. Blanket prohibitions and re-designations of traditional farmlands into protected zones without alternatives have harmed livelihoods. Support must prioritize traditional dairy families, complementing their experience with new technology, and then induct new entrants. Simply importing dairy cows without building management capacity fails.

¶ 04 There are also on-the-ground issues: in Anuradhapura, a long-established dairy shed operator is being evicted for political reasons; relocating risks cattle theft, which is rampant. Please protect such livelihoods.

¶ 05 Let us also organize kurakkan producers into co-operatives in North Central Province to stabilize prices. With Government facilitation, co-operatives can prevent farmers being exploited by black markets. Thank you, and thanks to the Hon. Chaminda Wijesiri for the motion.