Donation: The livestock development department and Dairy Farming Promotion Organisation  of Thailand donated cheese-processing equipment worth about USD 5,000 to the agriculture ministry yesterday.

The livestock development department’s director general, Dr Ayuth Harintharanon, handed over the equipment that has a capacity of 60 litres of milk to produce six kilogrammes of cheese to the agriculture minister Yeshey Dorji.

Agriculture ministry’s head of highland development programme, Towchu Rabgay, said the equipment would be tested, if suitable for highlanders, after which it would be decided which highland community to give it to.

Another cheese processing equipment will be donated to the agriculture ministry if found feasible after the test.

Towchu Rabgay said cheese-processing method in the country, at present, is not hygienic.  The equipment is expected to improve hygiene. “After the test is done, the equipment will be given to a highlander farmer’s group,” he said.

Two trainers from the Dairy Promotion Organisation of Thailand will visit the country in May to train dairy technologists and extension officers.

The ministry of agriculture and cooperatives of Thailand has assisted the agriculture ministry in capacity development in feed analysis and quality control of feed products, besides technical assistance in designing of a meat processing plant, turkey farming, and poultry farming.

This is the first time that the Thai agriculture ministry has donated equipment for highland development.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the agriculture ministry and ministry of agriculture and cooperatives of Thailand about four years ago.

By Dechen Tshomo

Advertisement