SUNIL JAYASIRI 
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Buffaloes and camels to be imported
The government is to import 5,000 buffaloes and ten camels from Pakistan within the next three years, a top official said today. 500 buffaloes would be imported to the country in March initially to be reared in the state-run farms, Livestock Ministry Secretary H.A. Gamage told Daily Mirror.
Mr. Gamage said that this would be done under the agreements for economic cooperation signed between the two countries during the visit of Pakistani President Asif Al Zardari to Sri Lanka recently.
“These buffaloes will be reared at various state farms. Later, their calves will be given to livestock farmers around the country,” he said.
At present, Sri Lanka produces only 20-25 percent of its milk requirement. The government plans to increase it to 40-50 percent during the next few years.
Asked about camel farming, he said that the Ministry had already inquired about camel prices in Pakistan.
“We can purchase a camel from Pakistan at Rs. 300,000 an animal. Anyway, we will have to spend around Rs.400, 000 for a camel altogether inclusive of import costs,” he said. (KB)
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