Annual Report 2008 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

6. A Sectoral Perspective
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Livestock
The livestock sector mainly consists of the dairy and poultry
sub sectors. The special attention has been paid for the
development of the livestock sector which is considered as
one of the high priority areas for future growth, investment and
poverty alleviation. A number of priority programmes were
implemented in order to improve breeds, the availability of
quality fodder/pasture, better animal health, and a developed
collection network. The Dairy Village Programme, Liquid
Milk Consumption Promotion Programme, Improvement
of Service Delivery System, Calf Rearing Programme, and
Livestock Breeding Project continued in 2008 with a greater
participation of the privet sector.
Steps have been taken to establish a Veterinary Hospital at
Nuwara-Eliya and three Veterinary Investigation Centres
(VICs) in Colombo, Ampara and Trincomalee with the aim
of providing effective disease investigations and diagnosis
facilities. In addition, 148 Divisional Veterinary Offices
have been equipped to improve the service delivery system.
Nearly 9,000 improved heifer calves were distributed among
farmers under the Heifer Calf Rearing Project in 2008. Animal
Act No. 29 of 1958 was amended with the aim of controlling
the slaughtering of breedable cows which is the major cause
of depletion of cattle population.
The livestock sector in real terms grew by 5.6 percent in
2008 and the contribution of the sector to the GDP amounted
nearly 1 percent. The total milk production reached to 208
million litres in 2008, an increase of 3 percent over 2007. This
includes 172 million litres of cow milk and 36 million litres
of buffaloes milk. At present, 26 percent of national milk
requirement is met by the local production indicating the
importance of diverting more resources on milk production
to achieve the envisaged target of 50 percent self sufficiency
by 2015.
The Government heavily intervened in the promotion of
Liquid Milk Consumption Programmes in 2008 with greater
private sector participation. The year 2008 was declared as
“Kiri Ithurum Mangalya” to create awareness among public
on the value of fresh milk consumption. 67 dairy villages,
38 animal breeding farms have been established benefiting
Towards the Healthy Nation: Fresh Milk Consumption Outlet
1,538 farm families during the year 2008. In addition, 154
fresh milk sales centers and 30 milk chilling centers have
also been established in view of promoting fresh milk
consumption in the country.
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
The highest ever annual fish production was recorded in 2008
amounting to 319,000 metric tons, a 10 percent increase over
2007. This constitutes of 275,000 metric tons of marine fish
production and 44,000 metric tons of aquaculture and inland
fisheries. The marine fish production and the inland and
aquaculture fish production grew by 8.7 per cent and 16 per
cent respectively with the resumption of economic activities
in the East coast and the favourable weather condition.
Several measures have been taken to increase fish
production in promoting offshore and deep sea fishing. The
selected fishermen were given a subsidy for the construction
of 58 multi-day boats and 25 one -day boats in the year.
The fishing fleet was increased by 7 per cent in 2008 due
to granted subsidies and other development interventions.
Rehabilitation of all the existing fishery harbours and the
construction of 3 new fishery harbours at Hambantota,
Ambalangoda and Chilaw were completed. The preliminary
work for the construction of Dickowita fishery harbour has
been undertaken in 2008 and expected to be completed
by 2010. Action was taken to improve the anchorages at
Sainthamaruthu, Vakarai, Suduwella, Kinniya and Kaikawala
with the support of donor funds.
Ministry of Finance and Planning Sri Lanka
Annual Report 2008