Livestock Production under Coconut Plantations in Sri Lanka: 1. Social, Cultural and Economic Aspects of Buffalo Production

Traditional Sri Lankan fermented buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) milk gel (Meekiri): technology, microbiology and quality characteristics

“…The agriculture sector contributes about 7% of the national GDP of Sri Lanka [17], whereas the contribution of the livestock sector to the national GDP is around 0.8% [18]. Buffalo-keeping has been an integral part of the farming systems of Sri Lanka from an ancient time where the buffalo has been reared for multiple purposes including milk for producing Meekiri, manure and draft mainly for paddy cultivation [19,20]. The current buffalo population in Sri Lanka is estimated at 0.47 million heads [21].…”

“…The highest buffalo milk production was coming from the eastern province (21 million L) followed by northwestern (15.7 million L), north-central (13.2 million L) and southern (12.2 million L) provinces (Table 1). In Sri Lanka, the majority of the buffalo farmers rear buffaloes for draft power or as a source of ready cash, and therefore, a fewer number of buffaloes are kept for milking purposes [20]. Based on the statistics, it can be estimated that only 24% of the total buffalo population is being milked currently, suggesting that there is a huge potential exist for further expansion of the industry in terms of milk production although the majority of buffalo milk comes from smallholder herds [24].…”

“…Buffalo farm management and uses vary with the agro-ecology, rainfall and cropping patterns. In all these systems, productivity and reproductive performance are at sub-optimal levels [20,26]. Major buffalo production systems in Sri Lanka and their characteristics are summarized in Table 2.…”

“…Buffalo farming significantly contributes to the sustainability of mixed crop-livestock farming systems as well as to the farmers' income and food security in Sri Lanka [19]. According to the prevailing social, cultural and economic understandings among rural farmers, the dairy herd is considered as an easily convertible currency and a reliable living bank that not only provide daily subsistence but also the capital and ready cash at times of dire family needs to overcome the financial issues in the event of urgency [19,20,58]. Buffaloes are more efficient milk producers than indigenous cows [58]; out of two types of buffaloes (e.g.…”

“…Breeds like Murrah, Nili-Ravi, Mehsana, Jaffarabadi and Surti are examples of river-type buffalo breeds. Milk production costs are highly variable depending on the agro-ecological zone and the production system [20].…”