The consortium Sri Lankan Dutch Dairy Solutions (SDDS), coordinated by Wellantcollege, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Peradeniya and Sri Lanka Association of Animal Production (SLAAP). The partners have formally joined forces to establish a Dairy Training Centre in Sri Lanka.
All parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding on November 22nd, 2019 in Colombo, in presence of Her Excellency Ms. Tanja Gonggrijp, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
Dairy Training Centre in Sri Lanka
The MoU is an important step to develop and establish a self-sustaining Dairy Training Centre in Sri Lanka, integrated in a commercial dairy farming and processing business. The concept is based on practical dairy farming integrated in an educational and training environment to strengthen educational structures on (higher) vocational levels.
The proposed Dairy Training Centre will provide an accredited work-based learning path that will lead to recognised practical, hands-on skills, both locally and internationally. Hence, the planned Dairy Training Centre will contribute to further development of the dairy sector in Sri Lanka, and to reduce the vulnerability of local farmers by strengthen the fundamentals of their dairy operation.
Sri Lankan Dairy Sector Requires Skilled Workforce
Growing consumption of fresh milk and dairy products is fetching important nutritional benefits to large segments of the population of Sri Lanka. Following this increasing consumption, the demand for well-trained employees in the dairy sector is also growing. On the path of achieving self-sufficiency in milk production in Sri Lanka, practical professional skills in dairy farms and processing plants are in high demand.
Acknowledgements: many thanks to EUROPEA Netherlands and Jan Jeronimus 🙂
