28 March 2020 12:00 am
Local dairy milk processor, Pelwatte Dairy Industries Ltd., while being highly concerned of the ongoing COVID-19 situation in the country, has ensured that they would continue to collect milk from local dairy farmers.
The firm has made this pledge taking into consideration that the livelihoods of the dairy farmers should not get affected despite the pandemic faced across the globe.
“One of our main concerns as a local milk processor is that we continue milk collection and continue with our manufacturing. The continuity of milk collection is essential for the dairy farmers, as their livelihoods depend on it,” Pelwatte Dairy Managing Director Akmal Wickramanayake stressed.
Taking the health risk of the situation into consideration, Pelwatte would take all the necessary precautions and will follow strict hygiene procedures during the manufacturing process, ascertaining that the staff and all stakeholders involved are well protected.
Explaining on the supply chain management during this period, Susantha Malwatte, Deputy General Manager (Supply Chain and Marketing) of Pelwatte stated, “It is vital that we maintain our product flow during the tiring times and keep on going with the supply chain, despite many dairy and dairy product manufacturing nations across globe being under the siege of the pandemic.”
The dairy company highlighted that despite their efforts they have been struggling with the collection of the raw milk, due to additional circumstances such as limited resources available for local dairy farmers and their inability to supply in adherence to the company requirements.
However, the company continues to hold strong dairy collection points in Uva, Central, Eastern, North Central and North Western Provinces. The functionality of the milk collection centers in these areas has become vital in the face of the crisis.
Pelwatte manufactures all their products with a dairy base, where their frozen range is developed only using 100 percent dairy fats, with no added artificial flavours or additives in addition to the full cream milk powder.