The well-established and successful Amul model of dairy development through co-operatives is being exported to other countries across the world and crisis-hit Sri Lanka is set to be a beneficiary of this.

A joint venture agreement has been signed between India’s National Dairy Development Board, Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation and Cargills of Sri Lanka to make the latter self-sufficient in the dairy industry. NDDB and GCCMF will hold a majority stake in the venture and Cargills will hold the remainder. Under the terms of the agreement, some of the dairy farms under the government-controlled MILCO and the brand Highland will come under the JV.

GCMMF MD Jayen Mehta, President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wikremsinghe and S Jaishankar, Minister of External Affairs, Govt of India, Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka in Colombo after shareholders agreement signed between GCMMF, NDDB and Cargill of Sri Lanka

The country produces about 40 per cent of its total domestic demand and depends on imports for the remaining. The new JV company will take up the task of making Sri Lanka self-sufficient in the dairy industry in one decade, GCMMF’s Managing Director Jayen Mehta said. He added that the investment in the venture will be finalised based on the valuations of the assets being handed over to the JV.

The agreement was signed on Wednesday in the presence of President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wikremsinghe, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Gopal Baglay, High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka. Other ministers and officials in the Sri Lankan government were also present.

Source : The Hindu Businessline Oct 12 th 2023