PETALING JAYA: The Netherlands' dairy giant FrieslandCampina, through Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd, is boosting Malaysia's goal to achieve a fully sustainable milk supply.
Dutch Lady has established a strategic partnership with the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia (DVS) to help local dairy farmers to enhance the quality and volume of cattle raw milk.
Malaysia is aiming for a 100 per cent of self-sufficiency level (SSL) for local fresh milk production by 2025 as part of the National Dairy Industry Development programme.
Malaysia had seen its fresh milk production increased substantially under the 10th Malaysia Plan and the 11th Malaysia Plan, said Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.
In 2010, the production stood at 27 million litres before rising to 42 million litres last year, Kiandee said at the signing of the partnership here today.
Dutch Lady managing director Tarang Gupta said with its 58 years presence in Malaysia, the company was well-positioned to be the conduit between Malaysia and the Netherlands to facilitate knowledge transfer to create a successful, sustainable dairy sector here.
The collaboration will involve Dutch Lady's Dairy Development Programme (DDP) and Farmer2Farmer (F2F) Programme.
"These programmers are ideal platform for Malaysia and the Netherlands to achieve the goal of self-sufficient fresh milk supply to meet the growing need of Malaysian consumers," Gupta told the media.
The DDP and F2F are two major dairy development initiatives by Dutch Lady with strong support from the ministry, DVS, and the embassy of the the Netherlands here.
Dutch Lady is the first and only dairy company in Malaysia to actively initiate, lead and develop the DDP.
The collaboration will encompass the exchange and sharing of resources, facilities, data, knowledge and skills in their respective areas of expertise and experience to ensure commercial and strategic advantages that are in the best interest of the participants.
The F2F focuses on good farming management and administration (sustainability and profitability), good milking/handling practices, effective feed and nutritional programme for cattle, monitoring methods, good breeding, and fertility programme.
From 2013 to 2019, the Dutch Lady F2F reached seven states (Kedah, Perak, selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, Pahang and Johor), benefitting 466 local dairy farmers.
"As the largest purchaser of local fresh milk from DVS milk collection centres in Malaysia, Dutch Lady is committed to helping local dairy smallholders to increase their yield and milk quality, including making dairy farming a steady and growing income source for our vendors," said Gupta.
Kiandee noted that the local dairy industry had the best potential to be developed.
"Currently, the country's SSL for fresh milk is at 62 per cent. The demand for fresh milk is increasing every year, prompting the government to formulate new policies and strategies to increase fresh milk production to reduce import dependence.
"Through the National Dairy Industry Development Strategic Plan formulated in the 12th Malaysia Plan, the government aims to increase local fresh milk production by an additional 20 million litres within five years," he added.