An Omani pilot project will set up several milk collection centres and a dairy processing project which will open next year, aimed at supporting the livestock farmers in Dhofar region, said a report.

The project is part of a series of major initiatives undertaken by the state-owned Oman Food Investment Holding Co (OFIC).

The new pilot project is aimed at evaluating the scheme before launching the same on a commercial basis, added the Times of Oman report.

Saleh M Al Shanfari, chief executive officer at OFIC, confirmed that the pilot project will start by next year.

He noted that the commercial project will be assessed in two years’ time, and if proved successful, it will go for a full-fledged commercial project.

Al Shanfari added that the proposed venture will collect fresh milk from cattle (camel and cow) owners in southern Oman. Then will start producing value added products, which will include dairy products, ice-creams, cheese and yogurt.

The new company for implementing the project is under formation now, added the report.

The OFIC official pointed out that there will be 95 collection centres in Dhofar region, eight chilling centres and one major central processing plant.

The project may start with an estimated milk collection of 25,000 litres, which will be substantially increased in different stages.

The milk collection and dairy processing project are primarily targeted at Omani livestock herders who thrive in the jabals (mountains) of the governorate, as well as those in the plains.

The scheme, which is expected to help thousands of farmers, will help in the modernisation of livestock farming among small herd owners and augment household income through the introduction of cooperative-style milk collection and processing for the first time in Oman.