Livestock Development Policy

and
Strategic Approach
 CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 3

SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE PRESENT SITUATION 3

VISION 14

MISSION 15

GOALS 16

OBJECTIVES 18

POLICY STATEMENTS 20

PURPOSES & STRATERGIC PLANS 22

IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS 47

2
 INTRODUCTION

This policy document clearly declares the development goals and

role of the public and private sectors including producers and
community organizations for efficient utilization of available resources
for the sustainable development of the livestock sector on a climate
smart manner.

SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE PRESENT

SITUATION

SWOT analysis was conducted to assess the current situation

and the historical trends of the livestock industry and findings are given
below:

Strengths & Opportunities

Production

The market value of locally produced 380 million liters of cow and
buffalo milk during 2022 was Rs.50.5 billion. That was similar to 73.9%
of the total amount of Rs.68.3 billion which was spent on the importation
of milk and milk-products in the same year. In 2022, Sri Lankan
livestock farmers have also produced 2.1 billion eggs, 228,130 MT of
chicken meat, 27,620 MT of beef, 2,680 MT of mutton and 9,300 MT of
pork. The export value of 1,591 MT of milk and milk-products and 586
MT of meat and meat products were Rs.1,369 million and Rs.569

3
million respectively during the same year. Annual milk collections have
increased from 53% to 61% of total milk production from 2013 to 2022.
The increase in collections relative to productions reflects a greater
focus on the formal market and more competition among processors.
The number of milk processors and chilling centers have increased
from 10 to 14 and from 185 to 293 respectively from 2010 to 2022.

Market

Prevalence of 4% average annual demand growth rate for milk

and milk-products during the last ten years.

Livestock Population

There were 1.61 million cattle, 0.48 million buffaloes, 0.77 million
goats, 0.17 million pigs and an average monthly commercial population
of 12.88 million layers, 13.50 million broilers and 3.20 million backyard
poultry. The monthly average of parent and grandparent flock was 1.77
million birds. Dairy animals in the national herd have increased by 26%
from 2010 to 2020 and the share of animals milking has increased from
20% to 30% during this period.

Human Capital

Among the large segment of the population with involvement in

livestock, there were 290,592 registered cattle farms, 27,844 buffalo
farms, 82,103 goat farms, 5,906 pig farms, 600 sheep farms, 20,892-
layer farms and 10,491 broiler farms in Sri Lanka in 2022. Though

4
numbers of farms are difficult to trace, large scale farms having 100 to
3000 dairy cows had produced 5% of national milk production in 2022
and the same volume of milk had produced by medium scale dairy farms
having 10 to 100 dairy cows in 2022. Balance 90% of the national milk
production of 380 million liters was done by smallholder farmers. In
addition, there is a large number of people who are engaged in
production and sale of value-added livestock products and as input
suppliers and service providers. A large fleet of professionals including
policy makers, administrators, researchers, academics, technical and
non-technical personnel play a pivotal role in this sector.
Although the contribution of livestock sector to the National GDP
is very small (about 1.0%), the contribution of livestock farmers and other
stakeholders of the livestock sector to the national economy and as
protein source supplement to the nation cannot be underestimated.

Other Resources

A vast potential exists for expansion of the livestock industry.

Large extent of underutilized land including abandoned and fallow paddy
fields, sufficient manpower, good infrastructure facilities, healthy animal
population with increased genetic potential and are few of them.

Policy Environment

Commitment of the government, increased trend in new

investments by the private sector, willingness, and acceptance of the
need to modernize the livestock industry through greater involvement of
the private sector and an average farmgate milk price of Rs.130 and

5
Rs.150 for a liter of cow and buffalo milk respectively can also be
considered as good opportunities.

Socio-economic Importance

Further development in the sector will result in a greater

contribution to the GDP and minimize the import bill.
Poverty in Sri Lanka is gradually increasing, and majority of poor
(80%) are living in rural areas. They depend directly or indirectly on
agriculture and livestock. Agriculture sector in Sri Lanka is so neglected
and it is not a satisfactory livelihood for the agrarian community. Being
engaged in agriculture at the current phase can be considered as the
main cause of poverty. Hence agriculture and livestock sector
development are key factors to alleviate poverty and improve the living
standards of the sector engaged people. It will reduce unemployment,
increase food availability, reduce food prices, decrease malnutrition,
increase health status, increase family income, and finally will improve
human wellbeing.
While hunger and malnutrition are increasing with poverty in
one category of people, there is a high demand for livestock products
associated with rapid income growth of upper and middle-class people.
As a result, there is a trend of emergence of modern food value chain,
which is a favorable condition for the livestock sector.
Sustainable livestock development can be considered as one of
the major solutions to mitigate the bi-polar nature of this national issue
by fulfilling livelihood development in one way and as one of the main
sectors to provide adequate protein and other essential nutrients for
people in the other.

6
 Weaknesses and Threats
The overall productivity of the livestock sector is very much
below to the expected levels as it mainly suffers from the
following weaknesses and threats, especially in the given
aspects of the livestock sector below:

Breeding Aspect

• Under performance of livestock breeding programs.

• Severe shortage of quality breeding animals of
recommended genetic composition.
• A short supply of backyard (free-range) chicken to meet the
increasing demand.
• Supply chain lapses in animal breeding services.
• Difficulty in getting rid of unproductive and culled animals.
• Threat to indigenous genes due to indiscriminate
crossbreeding.
• No genetic conservation of native animals.

Feeding Aspect

• Underutilization of locally available feed resources.

• Mismanagement, underutilization and under exploitation of
available lands and roughages available in grasslands,
coconut lands, fallow paddy lands, highland farming systems,
tank beds, roadsides, railway banks, marshy lands and other
vacant lots.

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• Lack of year-round availability of improved pasture and
fodder.
• Poor quality and low nutrient levels in main forages fed to
animals.
• Absence of reasonably developed fodder conservation
programs.
• Frequent price fluctuation of animal feeds and raw materials.
• Poor quality of local feed ingredients.
• Dependency on imported feed ingredients.
• Insufficient production of locally grown feed ingredients
• Insufficient production and poor quality of compound animal
feeds.
• High import bill for animal feed ingredients.
• Insufficient implementation of the provisions of the Animal
Feed Act.
• Poor awareness of the importance of free access to clean
and quality drinking water for animals.

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Health Aspect

• High prevalence of contagious and economically important

diseases.
• Poor disease control and eradication mechanism.
• High cost involved in treatments, vaccination and controlling
the animal diseases.
• Insufficient disease investigation and diagnostic facilities.
• Emerging new diseases.
• High prevalence of zoonotic diseases.
• No proper disease surveillance and monitoring mechanism.
• No proper disease awareness mechanism.
• Insufficient border control facility.

Marketing Aspect

• Non availability of efficient value chain for animal products.

• Market-oriental strategies for livestock products are not
identified.
• Non availability of efficient and effective market structure to
encourage production.
• There is a need for improving the milk chilling facility to cater
the increasing milk production in future.
• Frequently fluctuating supply and price of bought-in inputs
and services.
• Lack of market avenue for fodder.
• Lapses in supply chains both in inputs and services.

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• Weak farm-market linkages.
• Poorly organized meat industry.
• Underutilization of existing surplus capacity in the processing
sector.
• Unfavorable involvement of middlemen in marketing and
service providing sectors.
• Non availability of wide range of value-added animal
products to cater to the diverse customer demand.
• Very low per capita availability of animal products.
• High import bill of livestock products.
• Devaluation of the Sri Lankan rupee.
• Poor quality and unhygienic animal products sold in the
market.
• Inputs depended on imports (animal feed, farm equipment,
utensils, drugs and vaccines etc.).
• No export-oriented market mechanism for livestock products.

Research and Development Aspect

• Lack of new innovations with research and development

activities.
• Lack of research on field-oriented problems.
• Absence of participation of the private sector in R&D
activities of the livestock sector.
• Absence of proper monitoring and evaluation mechanism on
Research and development aspects.

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Extension Aspect

• Lack of holistic approach in extension activities.

• Poor production practices.
• Shortage of trained extension staff.
• Poor dissemination of new knowledge to the farmers.
• Insufficient infrastructure facilities for extension staff.
• Insufficient technical know-how of the extension staff.
• Lack of job satisfaction among extension staff.
• Lack of modern extension methodologies.
• Inadequate usage of Information Communication
Technology (ICT).

Environmental Aspect

• High ambient temperature.

• High humidity.
• Degradation of soil fertility.
• Poor quality of water.
• Scarcity of water.
• Rapid climate changes.
• Poor animal husbandry practices.
• Lack of climate smart production systems.
• Insufficient awareness on environmentally friendly farming.
• No proper waste management system.

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General

• Non availability of real time accurate data on livestock sector.

• Low per capita availability of livestock products.
• Inadequacy in evaluating on-going and completed livestock
development programs and undertake reforms as needed.
• Inadequately harmonized livestock related other policies.
• Livestock modernization strategies were not identified.
• The role of public, private and farmer organizations and
civil organizations were not adequately identified.
• Inadequate collaboration of private sector and other related
stakeholders
• Absence of enabling business environment for the private
sector to produce high quality livestock products for
consumers.
• Incentive based strategies were not identified.
• The value chain approach was not focused.
• Younger generation deviating from livestock farming and
migrating to urban areas.
• No youth and women encouragement program towards
livestock production.
• Urbanization causes reduction of land and labor for livestock
activities.
• Lack of proper risk management system.
• Lack of coordination among the service providing agencies.

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• Limited compliance with standards of products, inputs and
services and poor enforcement of related rules and
regulations.
• Insufficient addressing of cross-cutting issues such as
climate smart production systems and animal welfare.
• Inadequate attention to reduce and overcome negative
effects of disasters and risks associated with climate
change, epidemics, market failures and economic collapse.
• Inadequacies in implementation, coverage and updating of
existing laws and regulations.
• Inadequacy of financial support program especially for
beginners (low interest bank loans, tax concessions,
insurance schemes etc.).

13
 VISION

Modernized and sustainable livestock sector for national

renaissance.

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 MISSION

Management and judicial usage of all the resources available

in technically sound, financially viable, socio-economically
acceptable and environment friendly manner to make the
livestock industry strong, competitive and sustainable to
provide safe and nutritious livestock products for affordable
prices to all consumer groups and to cater the international
demand.

15
 GOALS

Following goals focus on transforming and enhancing the

livestock sector:

1. Ensure consistent availability of milk, meat, and eggs at

affordable prices nationwide throughout the year.
2. Salvage 150,000 families involved in the livestock sector
from poverty traps with the support of the private sector
in the next five years.
3. Increase profitability in the livestock sector by boosting
farm productivity, narrowing the gap between actual and
potential outputs, and strengthening value and supply
chains.
4. Double the per capita availability of livestock products
within five years.
5. Reduce reliance on imported livestock products and
decrease foreign exchange expenditures in the sector.
6. Make both the domestic and export livestock market
well-functioning and within the reach of everybody and
anywhere in the country.
7. Establish three task forces within the Department of
Animal Production and Health focusing on animal
nutrition, breeding, and health to address technical
challenges effectively.

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 8. Create a special monitoring unit within the responsible
ministry to coordinate and oversee all activities related to
the livestock sector institutionally.

These goals collectively aim to make the livestock sector

more resilient, productive, and accessible, benefiting both
producers and consumers while reducing poverty and economic
dependency on imports.

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 OBJECTIVES

Following objectives outlined focus on transforming the livestock

sector through various strategic initiatives:

1. Create an enabling business environment and achieve

self-reliance in poultry (100%), dairy (over 75%), and
double per capita availability of other livestock products
in five years.
2. Decrease the import bill of animal products by more than
50%.
3. Increase local production of forages, quality animal feed
and feed supplements and reduce the import bill on
these items by over 50%.
4. Promote production of safe and quality livestock
products and transform livestock farming into profit
making business irrespective of the scale of production
to attract more people.
5. Develop niche markets and enhance connections with
export markets for selected animal products.
6. Enhance the nutritional status of people by increasing the
availability of animal products at an affordable price.
7. Improve access to finances and insurance for the
livestock sector.
8. Support research and development through public and
industry collaboration.

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 9. Build human resources to ensure effective service
delivery in a profitable livestock industry.
10. Promote climate smart and circular economic livestock
farming.
11. Attract youth for livestock industry by empowering them
as livestock entrepreneurs.
12. Empower women engaged in livestock industry to
improve their livelihood and family wellbeing.
13. Strengthen statutory and regulatory framework within the
livestock sector.
14. Ensure animal welfare standards for wellbeing of animals.
15. Digitalize livestock sector to enhance data collection,
analysis, sharing dissemination, and follow-up.

These objectives collectively aim to modernize and optimize

the livestock sector, fostering sustainability, profitability, and
inclusivity.

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 POLICY STATEMENTS

Following policy statements outlined focus on various aspects of

enhancing the livestock sector:

1. Market-oriented profitable domestic livestock production.

2. Import substitution and exploiting the potential for export
markets.
3. Efficient regulatory framework to ensure quality and
maximum production.
4. The government and industry supported research and
development activities to enhance livestock production.
5. Private sector investments in the livestock industry.
6. Livestock development as a means of livelihood
improvement to reduce poverty.
7. Small holder empowerment to increase production and
uplift their livelihood
8. Consistent, coherent and transparent livestock policies
with other related policies.
9. Transparency in various price formulas adopted in the
livestock sector from time to time.
10. Tax concessions and incentives (i.e., low interest loan
facility, long term credit facilities or livestock insurance
schemes) for progressive livestock farmers.

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 11. Favorable import and fiscal policies to assure conducive
environment for the domestic livestock industry while
meeting diverse consumer needs.
12. The State-owned livestock enterprises remain as
government bodies and self-financed.
13. Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in utilization of
selected state farms and underutilized crown lands.
14. Government priority for dairy sector development.
15. Quality and safe animal products (food safety) for human
consumption.
16. efficient value and supply chains to prevent market
distortions and facilitate fair trading.
17. Genetic conservation and sustainable use of native
livestock species.
18. Environmentally friendly livestock farming.
19. Adopt policy on feed resource development and land
usage accepting fodder as a crop.
20. Youth encouragement towards livestock
entrepreneurship.

These policies collectively aim to promote sustainable

growth, competitiveness, and inclusivity within the livestock
sector while ensuring food safety and environmental
stewardship.

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 PURPOSES & STRATERGIC PLANS

Strategic plans with purpose/s were formulated to

earmark prospects of the livestock sector. Accordingly,
Development efforts of the livestock industry will be focusing on
07 key aspects of the livestock sector. Purposes of developing
those thematic areas and strategies intend to adopt are given
below:

1. Animal Nutrition

Purposes

1. To assure year-round availability of good quality roughages,

quality feed ingredients and animal feeds in sufficient
quantities for all the livestock sector industries at affordable
prices.
2. To reduce the import bill of animal feed ingredients and
animal feeds.

Strategic plan

Good nutrition is essential to exploit the full genetic

potential of the animals. Despite of large quantity of local feed
resources available in the country, they are not fully utilized and
at present there is a severe shortage of animal feed in the dairy
industry. Although the required amount of feed is produced for

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poultry industry, import bill of feed ingredients increases the cost
of production in poultry products exceeding the affordable levels
of consumers hence 70-80% of cost of production is comprised
with feed. To overcome this situation, the following strategies will
be implemented:
1. Identifying and action will be taken to utilize suitable lands/
abandoned lands for pasture cultivation under the
provisions of the Pastureland Act No 43 of 1983.
2. The dairy farmers and/or entrepreneurs will be encouraged
to cultivate fodder maize, fodder sorghum and soya bean in
suitable paddy fields in between two main crop seasons in
collaboration with Department of Agrarian Development
under the provisions of the Circular No: 19/2018.
3. A collaborative program will be established with the
Department of Agriculture to produce excess amount of rice
to use as an alternative for maize to fulfil the gap of local
maize production. This can be done by increasing
productivity of irrigated paddy cultivation in low country dry
zone without increasing land extent.
4. Cultivation and conservation of Improved high quality hybrid
varieties of pasture and fodder will be promoted in own farm
or any other alternative land under the technical guidance
of Veterinary Office.
5. Infrastructure facilities will be facilitated for commercial
scale fodder cultivation and conservation (Napier varieties,
fodder sorghum and fodder maize).

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6. The possibility of cultivation of improved variety of pasture
and fodder under coconut cultivation in coconut lands and
in marginal and abandoned tea estates will be reviewed and
a mechanism will be introduced to utilize these resources if
possible.
7. A mechanism for efficient utilization of commonly found
local fodder varieties and legume varieties for ruminant feed
will be developed.
8. Depending on the technical feasibility, profitability and
availability, production of vitamin and mineral supplements
and utilization of crop residues and agro-industrial by
products will be exploited and promoted.
9. Pasture–legume integration and tree fodder cultivation will
be promoted.
10. Steps will be taken to ensure uninterrupted irrigation
facilities to livestock operations. Harvesting, storage, and
utilization of rainwater and establishing micro-irrigation
facilities wherever practicable, affordable and profitable will
be promoted.
11. Small or medium scale silage production to supply small
and medium-scale dairies will be promoted as silage
making entrepreneurs.
12. Development of fodder markets by providing information on
prices and market opportunities in an electronic format
utilizing information apps and other types of media.

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13. Pasture and fodder will be receiving the same favorable
treatment as food crops such as subsidized seeds, planting
materials and fertilizers, free irrigation water.
14. Local production of maize and other animal feed ingredients
will be promoted, and necessary infrastructure facilities will
be provided. In collaboration with the department of
Agriculture, forecasted and target oriented maize
production program linking with quality assurance program
will be introduced to solve the current issues in animal feed
industry. Out-grower programs for production of animal
feeds and animal feed ingredients will be encouraged to
establish a new set of entrepreneurs in the animal feed
industry.
15. Availability of the main animal feed ingredients such as
maize, soya bean, broken rice, rice bran/polish, coconut
poonac and fish meal will be assured, and export of such
ingredients will be banned/restricted. In shortage of local
production, import of feed ingredients will be facilitated to
ensure sustainable livestock industry.
16. Special attention will be given to promoting self-mixing of
animal feeds.
17. Laboratory facilities for analysis of feed and feed ingredients
will be enhanced linking district laboratories (VICs) with
Veterinary Research Institute. Facilities at district
laboratories will be improved accordingly.

25
18. Linkages with the ministry in-charge of livestock and other
ministries and institutions involved with crop sector will be
further strengthened to facilitate crop-livestock integration
to enhance the productivity of both sectors.
19. District level animal nutrition units will be established to
coordinate animal nutrition programs and follow up activities
under the direction and guidance of the relevant provincial
directors of the DAPH. A task force for animal nutrition will
be established at the Central DAPH to coordinate and
monitor the island wide program nationally.

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 2. Animal Breeding

Purpose

1. To evolve and maintain prices justified, timely available

livestock populations which can thrive well under the local
management systems and environmental conditions.

Strategic plan

1. Immediate action will be taken to implement the National

Animal Breeding Policy Guidelines and Strategies.
2. The National Animal Breeding Committee (NABCo) will be
established and legally empowered. Novel animal breeding
technologies will be promoted, and the government and
private sector will be allowed for importation of livestock,
semen, embryos, or any other breeding materials only after
a feasibility study carried out by a technical team appointed
by the NABCo.
3. An incentive program for the farmers, technicians and the
veterinary surgeons will be introduced to popularize the
Artificial Insemination (AI) service in cattle, buffalo, goats, and
pigs with an aim to double the present cattle and buffalo AI
coverage within five years.
4. Strengthen the infrastructure facilities (donor animals,
laboratory facilities, semen storage and distribution etc.) of
three AI centers in Kundasale, Polonnaruwa and
Kotadeniyawa and range veterinary offices to provide

27
 efficient and effective AI service to the country.
5. Implement systematic natural breeding service under the
provisions of Animals Act No.29 of 1958 in the areas where
AI service is not feasible. Selected Government and private
sector farms will be promoted to produce the required
numbers of bull calves with recommended genetic
composition to use for natural breeding.
6. In addition to the government farms, private sector farms will
also be encouraged to establish nucleus herds to supply
breeding stocks of cattle, buffaloes, goats, sheep, swine,
and alternate poultry. Minimum of such three breeder farms
per district will be established initially.
7. Poultry breeding activities and infrastructure facilities at the
Central Poultry Research Station (CPRS) at Kundasale and
state regional hatcheries in other provinces will be improved
to meet the increasing demand of back yard poultry. Private
sector involvement in breeding and distribution of back yard
poultry will also be facilitated under the government
regulatory mechanism.
8. Parent and grand-parent poultry breeder operations in the
private sector will be further strengthened, encouraged and
supported to increase the self-reliance of day-old parents
required for the local poultry industry as well as for export
market.

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9. State assistance will be given to in-situ and ex-situ
conservation and sustainable use of indigenous livestock
species and wild relatives.
10. Introduce new technologies such as test strips for
pregnancy diagnosis, heat detection test kits, collars and
microchips for animal identification, smartphone
applications, ICT Apps to improve efficiency and
effectiveness of animal breeding services.
11. District level animal breeding units will be established to
coordinate animal breeding programs, follow up activities
and infertility investigations under the direction and guidance
of the relevant provincial directors of the DAPH. Animal
breeding task force will be established at the central DAPH
to coordinate and monitor the island wide programs.

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 3. Animal Health

Purpose

1. To ensure availability of healthy and productive livestock

population and minimum prevalence of zoonotic diseases.

Strategic plan

1. Disease prevention and control mechanisms will be further

strengthened to minimize the losses by economically
important animal diseases and to reduce the prevalence of
contagious and zoonotic diseases.
2. Laboratory facilities at the Veterinary Research Institute
(VRI) will be upgraded in compliance with international
standards to cater the national and international demand
with special reference to emerging and re-emerging animal
diseases, economically important diseases, and zoonotic
diseases. VRI will be officially recognized as a national
reference laboratory for animal disease diagnosis and
surveillance center.
3. Research on new innovations to develop local vaccines and
biological, diagnostic tools, and treatment protocols etc. in
supporting to animal health improvements will be
encouraged and sufficient funds and infrastructure facilities
will be provided.

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4. Infrastructure facilities at the 25 district Veterinary
Investigation Centers (VICs) will be improved for prompt
disease investigation and diagnosis at district level.
5. Regional laboratory services will be further strengthened to
enhance disease diagnosis, surveillance, and quality testing
of animal products. This will include networking district
Veterinary Investigation Centers (VICs) and the Veterinary
Research Institute (VRI). An efficient sample submission
and reporting system will be implemented, ensuring that
samples from government veterinary offices are promptly
sent to the nearest VICs and then to the VRI if necessary.
Results will then be communicated through a digital network
system, ensuring timely and accurate reporting.
6. The facilities at the range veterinary offices will be improved
to provide more efficient animal health and extension
services to the farmers.
7. Veterinary service will be further strengthened at district
level by establishing 25 District Veterinary Hospitals with the
facilities for mobile veterinary services. Possibilities to
provide 24hrs veterinary service through these hospitals will
be reviewed and further action will be taken.
8. Animal quarantine service at all the airports, harbors and
other entry points will be strengthened to prevent entry of
exotic, animal and zoonotic diseases into the country via
importation of animals and animal products.

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9. An island-wide Veterinary Public Health (VPH) Service will
be established to ensure quality and safe animal products
for local consumers and exports.
10. The Veterinary Public Health (VPH) service will be
strengthened through efficient disease monitoring, control,
and surveillance system (MCS) for public health important
diseases. A comprehensive mechanism will be implemented
throughout the animal product value chains to ensure food
safety in compliance with established food standards.
Special attention will be given to meat inspection, including
both ante-mortem and post-mortem procedures.
Additionally, basic laboratory facilities for testing of animal
products will be established at the VICs to further enhance
food safety measures.
11. Regulations will be enforced to ensure prudent usage of
antibiotics especially in dairy, poultry, goat and swine
husbandry to minimize emerging of antimicrobial resistant
organisms. Activities related to animal health sector in
National action plan for combating antimicrobial resistance
will be implemented.
12. A mechanism of disease diagnosis, monitoring and
surveillance in aquatic animals will be strengthened among
the relevant institutions to ensure compliance with
international standards for export market.
13. Real time disease reporting system will be established
linking with all state and private laboratories.

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14. District level animal health unit will be established to
coordinate animal health and veterinary public health
programs and follow up activities under the direction and
guidance of the relevant provincial directors of the DAPH. An
animal health and veterinary public health task force will be
established at the central DAPH to coordinate and monitor
the island wide program.

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 4. Marketing
Purposes

1. Assure year-round availability of safe and quality animal

products at an affordable price.
2. Reduce the foreign exchange spent on importation of
livestock products and production inputs.
3. Increase exports of quality animal products and animal by-
products.

Strategic plan

1. The best ethical business practices, including branding will

be promoted in the livestock sector to improve its credibility
and competitiveness.
2. Create a favorable market avenue for livestock products to
satisfy the consumers, livestock producers and other stake
holders involved in supply and value chains.
3. Involvement of middlemen in the value and supply chains
will be monitored carefully to avoid creation of unnecessary
market monopolies.
4. Involvement of co-operatives, volunteer organizations and
farmer managed societies in the value and supply chains
will be promoted.
5. Liquid milk consumption will be promoted through co-
operatives and farmer organizations in collaboration with the
private sector.

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6. Milk powder production using local milk will also be
promoted to meet the demand of people. To fulfill this task,
formal milk collection network and infra structure facilities to
ensure quality and safety of milk will be improved in
collaboration with private sector. Cooling of milk both at milk
collection point and farmer levels will also be promoted.
7. Quality based farm gate milk pricing system will be
established.
8. A minimum price guarantee system will be introduced for all
primary products of the livestock sector.
9. Value added livestock products for local consumption,
tourism, industrial needs, and export market will be
promoted. Market surveys will be conducted to identify the
trends and consumer preference for new value-added
products at local and export market.
10. Related new policies will be formulated and implemented for
improvement of meat and hide industry.
11. Niche markets for alternative livestock products such as A2
milk, grass-fed milk, green eggs, organic livestock products,
value added milk products such as Mozzarella cheese,
cottage butter, cheese and sausages etc. will be
encouraged and promoted.
12. Mechanism will be established to identify the local and export
market for animal by products and reorganize and strengthen
these industries in an environmentally friendly manner and
convert it to a foreign exchange earning enterprise.

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13. Interinstitutional collaborative program will be established to
facilitate export of animal products and by products to
increase the share of export market.

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 5. Research and Development

Purposes

1. Promoting applied and appropriate adaptive research for

finding solutions to field level issues.
2. Facilitate commercialization of innovative findings of R&D
programs.
3. Harmonization of research and development programs done
by all entities for cost effective outcomes.

Strategic plan

1. Promoting applied(disseminating farmer friendly, climatically

smart innovative solutions for field - oriented issues) and
appropriate adaptive research in prioritized manner with
special attention on evolving new breeds of livestock suitable
for local conditions, production of new vaccines and
biological, further improvements of vaccines and biological
already developed, pasture seed production, development of
new pasture and fodder varieties suit for soils in Sri Lanka,
new innovations on disease diagnosis, machinery and
equipment, utilization of freely available natural forages, use
of paddy and locally available coarse grains as animal feed,
use of agricultural and agro-industrial byproducts as animal
feed and sustainable utilization of indigenous livestock
species etc.

37
2. Strengthening the human resources and infrastructure
facilities for research and development activities.
3. Promote collaborative and multi – disciplinary research
programs among different entities.
4. A mechanism will be established to build up private public
partnership for further improvements and commercialization
of research outputs. A system will be established for effective
dissemination of research outputs and feedback monitoring.
5. The national research coordinating center for livestock will be
established at the Ministry in-charge of livestock to link all
entities pertaining to livestock research for effective utilization
of public funds to avoid duplications and underutilization of
resources (human and physical). Preparation of research
priorities, monitoring and evaluation of research and
development programs will be done through this center and
the commercialization process will also be managed. This
center will be linked with proposed National Institute for
Research and Development in the policy document of
Science and Technology.

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 6. Livestock Extension and Education

Purpose

1. Transfer technology to fill up the knowledge gap of

stakeholders in primary production and value chain.
2. Upgrade the technical capability of the extension staff.

Strategic plan

1. The government livestock extension service will be further

strengthened to provide required knowledge and training to
build up manpower and infrastructure facilities in livestock
sector. Efficiency and effectiveness of extension programs will
be improved by allocating targets in defining area for the field
extension officers.
2. Farmer empowerment programs will be implemented to
organize them as commodity- based Farmer Managed
Societies(FMSs) to display their solidarity and increase
collective bargaining power to ensure their due share in the
livestock industry and to ensure active participation in all steps
of farm to fork value chain. Initially it is planned to establish one
FMS per district.
3. Formation of livestock cluster units and networking will be
promoted at field level to provide better extension service.
4. Actions will be taken to transform smallholder livestock farming
to semi-commercial farming through upgrading knowledge on
environmentally friendly scientific farm management practices

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 as a major poverty alleviation program in the livestock sector.
5. Large and medium scale farming operations with
mechanization will be encouraged for improved productivity
and efficient utilization of labor, land, water and other
resources in a sustainable and eco-friendly manner.
6. Livestock entrepreneur training program for beginners/school
leavers will be started as a pilot project to attract youth for
livestock production. For this program, infrastructure facilities
in training centers of the Central DAPH, provincial DAPH and
other reputed institutions will be utilized.
7. Interactive ICT platform and Mobile App for livestock extension
will be established and promoted.
8. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs and
regular in-service training programs will be arranged for all
categories of officers in the Central and Provincial Departments
of Animal Production and Health and other relevant institutions
to update their technical knowledge and hands-on experience.
9. Manpower and infrastructure facilities at the government
education and training institutes will be improved to provide
efficient and effective service.
10. Appropriate extension methodologies will be adapted for the
transfer of new technologies, and good animal husbandry
practices to reduce the cost of production and improve
productivity.
11. On-site training (OST) programs will be organized to provide
hands on training to the farmers.

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12. Special training program for skilled technical specialty for the
livestock related activities such as Artificial Insemination,
Vaccination, humane slaughter, food processing, laboratory
management, foot care, bird sexing etc. will be introduced
based on the sector demand.

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 7. Environment

Purpose

1. Promotion of climate smart and environment resilience

livestock production systems.

Strategic plan

1. Efficient new farm production systems will be introduced to

minimize the effect of environment (high ambient
temperature, humidity, water shortage etc.) on livestock as
well as the effect of animals on the environment (emission
of greenhouse gases, farm wastes, soil degradation etc.).
2. Proper farm and industrial waste management and re-cycling
systems will be introduced with processing & treatment
plants for wastes, byproducts, and effluents to reduce
environmental pollution.
3. New techniques for water conservation (such as use of
sprinklers, drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting etc.) will be
introduced.
4. Action will be taken to promote and use of renewable energy
systems such as biogas units, solar panel in livestock
farming operations.
5. Inter institutional collaboration to educate farmers and
establish climate smart livestock production systems will be
promoted.

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6. A proactive preparedness program at the district level will be
introduced for sudden and frequent change of environmental
conditions to ensure sustainable production especially in
drought and flood.
7. Regulations for farm productions and regulations for
environment protection will be reviewed and harmonized for
the sustainability of livestock industry.

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 In addition to the above 07 major aspects described,
attention will be made to the following aspects as well.

8. General

1. National Reference Laboratory: Action will be taken to obtain

external support to upgrade the VRI to the level of accredited
National Reference Laboratory.
2. Animal Welfare: Animal welfare standards are imposed. Action
will be taken to implement the proposed Animal Welfare bill
without further delay.
3. Regulatory Functions: Action will be taken to strengthen the
facilities in the division of Regulatory Affairs in the Department
to regulate import and export of animals and animal products
in efficient and transparent manner. The implementation of the
provisions of the Animals Act, Animal Diseases Act, Animal
Feed Act, Animal Welfare Act, Veterinary Public Health
Service and any other related regulations will be reviewed
immediately and gaps will be identified. Rules and regulations
related to animal sector and food safety will be upgraded and
enforced to fill the current gaps in production, distribution, sale,
import and export of animals and animal products.
4. Livestock Insurance Program: The current livestock insurance
program will be reviewed, revised and farmer benefitted
scheme will be introduced.
5. Import and Fiscal Policies: Favorable import and fiscal policies
on livestock products, equipment, machinery, feed

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 ingredients, breeding materials, veterinary pharmaceuticals,
biological, and any other external inputs will be enforced to
safeguard the domestic livestock industry.
6. Special livestock products which are not produced in adequate
quantities but needed for the food industry hospitality services
and local use will be allowed to be imported under specified
conditions without having any negative impact on the domestic
industry.
7. Efforts will be taken to replicate the successful credit programs
(such as IFAD and SAPP) to provide loans and grants to small
producers with the support of development banks, government
and private sector.
8. Government support program will be implemented to identify
the market trends in national and international market in novel
ventures in animal industry and promote for investment
especially aiming the export market. Although the main
concern will be on dairy cattle and buffaloes, swine, goat and
poultry sub sectors, attention will also be made on promoting
sheep, alternate poultry such as duck, turkey, quail and free-
range poultry production.
9. The private sector engagement as processors, further
processors and service and input providers will be promoted
and facilitated to provide quality and ethical service in the
livestock production and food value chain to ensure quality and
safe animal products in local and export market. Mechanism
will be implemented to frequent monitoring of such services.

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10. Family poultry program will be promoted in the rural sector to
improve the family nutrition and as an additional income source
for poor.
11. Special attention will be paid to promoting dairy, goat and
village chicken production in the estate sector.
12. Present status of slaughter-house facilities will be reviewed
and action will be taken to modernize the existing slaughter
houses and private sector will be encouraged and facilitated to
build modernized slaughterhouses and processing plants.
13. A mechanism for compulsory submission of real time accurate
data of livestock sector by state and private entities will be
established and made available for policy development,
program planning and budget allocations.
14. The ministry responsible for livestock development will be
functioning as the focal point for livestock development in the
country and a special unit will be established at the ministry to
keep constant dialogue with all the stakeholders in dairy, poultry
and all other livestock sub sectors and facilitate institutional
coordination, supervision, monitoring, evaluation, regulation,
data collection and compilation and evidence-b a sed
decision making at national, regional and farmer levels as
required.

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 IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS

These strategies and policies will be implemented

under the purview of the ministry responsible for the livestock
sector, adhering to the country's existing rules and regulations.
If current laws are found inadequate during the implementation
process, new rules and regulations will be introduced as
necessary. The aim of this process is to successfully achieve
the eight goals and fifteen objectives outlined in this document.
Policy statements will provide essential guidance and direction
for decision-making throughout the implementation process. An
activity-driven, target-oriented action plan will be developed
based on this policy document, aiming to address both short-
term and long-term programs within a short period.

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