Dutch envoy visits dairy plant

LAHORE: Ambassador of The Netherlands to Pakistan Wouter Plomp visited the FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited’s (FECPL) state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Sahiwal recently for a guided tour of the dairy plant and farms, a statement said on Monday.

During his visit, Plomp was briefed on the operations, from milk procurement, milk collection, and quality checks to supply chain and production, it added. A tree plantation was also carried out along the dairy plant, as the Dutch ambassador’s contribution to the Billion Tree Tsunami project.

Plomp appreciated the role the FCEPL’s dairy development programme has played towards the education and training of the farmers on best dairy farm practices to improve the quality of milk and increase the yield/cow, it said.

Expressing his views at the end of the visit, Plomp said, “Throughout this visit, what stood out to me the most, apart from the efficient security and quality controls taken by FCEPL, is the rich tradition of dairy in Pakistan.”

“The dairy farms in Pakistan make me feel almost like home in The Netherlands, as both countries share the same values when it comes to cows, milk, and dairy. I am thoroughly impressed with FCEPL’s initiative of empowering men and women farmers alike. The quality control measures being upheld in the collection, processing, and packaging of milk by FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan also demonstrate world-class standards and highlight the dairy sector’s progress in Pakistan.”