‘Milkmaid’, a household name for generations in Sri Lanka, was awarded SLS (Sri Lanka Standards) certification last week.

Nestle has been in Sri Lanka for around 100 years and throughout its long history ‘Milkmaid’, a brand standard for the company, sustained its image for dependable quality, Production Manager, Nestle Lanka PLC, Upali Weerasinghe said.

He said Milkmaids’s popularity had grown considerably. Its acceptability transcended all social barriers; not least that its acceptability prominent in the rural context was also in demand in the urban sector. That too not only concentrated within urban context of large cities, but suburban locations as well.

The company’s production facility in Kurunegala delivers Nestle brands for the Sri Lankan market maintaining consistent quality, and the Standards certification awarded last week was not merely an award, but acknowledgement for credibility built over the years, he explained.

He said the company’s products are all locally produced. Irrespective of its product portfolio, Nestle Sri Lanka also assists local dairy farmers and maintains ongoing relationships to ensure targets are met. Nestle contributes about Rs. 120 million annually to the dairy industry which includes advice, and assistance to the Dairy Development Department of the Ministry. Included in assistance to farmers, are also educational programs, and importantly free milk collection at convenient centers so that farmers do not have to travel considerable distances to deliver milk to these collection points.

There are 700 rural collection centers spread throughout the country, in most instances located in far-flung villages. These collection points are fully equipped for storage facilities pending milk stock collection.

Asoka Kuruppu, Manager, Agricultural Services Department in the company, said 25 cold storage bowsers traverse the country collecting milk from 80 cooling centers. Each bowser has a net capacity of approximately 7000 to 8000 liters.

Although hill country stations, Hatton, Talawakelle, and Nuwara Eliya were major production areas, there are other competitors who are also active in those areas, he noted.

Kuruppu said the company pays an average 3.3 million rupees per day to dairy farmers for milk supplied 12,000 dairy farmers supply milk daily to Nestle, and payment is subject to lactometer readings for specific gravity and fat content.

Major production areas where the company is active are mainly the North Western and North Central Provinces.

Kuruppu also said the company had put in place extension services to benefit farmers. Not least that they have liaised with the Dairy Development Department of the Ministry to improve dairy stock through imported semen. Artificial Insemination (AI) Officers are all Government employees who carry out artificial insemination at farm level to improve dairy stock. Farmers are paid an incentive of Rs. 200 when inseminations are done.

Apart from milk collection and stock improvement, the Company has also commenced a fodder improvement programme, distributing high quality grass cuttings of the CO 3 variety, he said.