THE Myanmar Livestock Federation will launch the Milk and Dairy Products Manufacturers Association at the International Business Centre in Yangon on August 26.

The aim of the association is to organise dairy farmers and milk product manufacturers from around the country to promote the industry, an official from the private-sector federation told Myanmar Times.

“The association’s main purpose is economic success for the industry and to distribute dairy technologies,” said the official.

Dr Than Htun, the director of finance and planning at the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, welcomed the formation of the association, saying it would provide a vital link between farmers, dairy-product manufacturers and milk markets.

“In the past, all the breeders and dairy product manufacturers faced many difficulties and losses alone because of a lack of contact,” he said.

A main role of the association will be to encourage farmers and dairy product manufacturers to improve quality. It will promote improved hygiene standards and processing techniques. It will also support increased production of in-bottle pasteurised milk, packaged milk, and other value-added milk products.

The association will also work to meet milk demand by importing two million tonnes of milk powder a year from other countries.

The association will have an 11-member executive committee and about 4600 members from the 14 states and divisions.

There are about 14 million head of cattle in Myanmar, 12 per cent of which are dairy cows.