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(Date Posted:06/06/2008 10:13:54)
A lease agreement was signed yesterday afternoon between Rose Belle Sugar Estate and SKC Surat Fresh & Co. Ltd for a dairy project. The signature ceremony took place at the Ministry of Agro Industry and Fisheries, Port Louis, in the presence of Minister Arvin Boolell. The lease of 234 arpents of land is for an initial period of 15 years and renewable for two further periods of 15 years. The Rose Belle Sugar Estate Board has favourably considered this project in the context of food security and the rising cost of imported milk. The plot of land will be released as from September 2008 after cane harvest. On this occasion, Minister Boolell said that a substantial increase in local milk production may no longer be a distant reality, as his ministry is taking several measures and initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship in the dairy sector. The target is to achieve, in the medium term, at least ten per cent of our requirements from the present two per cent self sufficiency to reach 12 million litres of milk a year, he added. As at date, three major players have proposed to invest some Rs 350m in this sector. They are: Krish Cow Farms & Dairy Products Ltd, Golden Cream Dairy Farm Ltd, and SKC Surat Fresh & Co Ltd. These three investors will act as catalysts for the boosting up of the whole milk sector. A project write-up was submitted to the Ministry of Agro Industry and Fisheries for the application of 700 arpents of land targeting a production of 20 000 litres. Different plots of land were visited and eventually Rose Belle Sugar Estate Board (RBSE) favourably considered the project and a plot of land of 234 arpents and 32 perches (234A32P) at Le Val was identified and an agreement reached between RBSE and the SKC Surat Fresh & Co Ltd. Some 250 heifers will be imported from South-Africa in December 2008 / January 2009 in the context of this project. Production of milk is expected to start as from March / April 2009 with 5000 litres per day. Milk will be pasteurized, packed, stored and distributed from the Surat distribution centre in Wooton.
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