SMALL SCALE YOGHURT PRODUCTION IN MONERAGALA

Abstract

Milk and milk products play a significant role in the food consumption of human. As the milk and milk products contains a higher nutrient value, it is used as an important food product all over the world. Small and medium scale of milk products are ha.ndled in many parts of sri lanka. According to the statistics in 1986,the density of Cattle in Sri Lanka was about 17,83,000.The highest cattle population is available in the dry zone of Sri lanka. There are about 8,43,400 milking cows which contributes to. a greater proportion of the dairy production in this country. The Moneragala district cattle population is about 49,700. The percentage is about 25.6% out of the whole Sri Lankan cattle population. Yoghurt, ice cream, milk toffees and other confectionery products are produced as milk products in the rural sectors of moneragala.Specially yoghurt is the most popular milk product in this area. The cost of producing yoghurt is also very low when comparing with other milk products. On the other hand, no need of high technology'to produce yoghurt.Who don't have much knowledge on milk products also can try to produce yoghurt in small scale in household. Here the SANASA plays a key role among the peasants of Moneragala to improve their living standard through its invaluable services. SANASA provide credit facilities and other important contributions by there service to encourage the farmers, who have keen interest on the milk products. The people in the district of Moneragala are able to reach their goals, with the help of the SANASA programm.