The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is likely to aid a cattle breeding zone project planned in the new capital of Nay Pyi Taw, said a report of the local weekly Khit Myanmar Friday.

Proposals are being made by the FAO for the aid project, Minister of Livestocks and Fisheries Brigadier-General Maung Maung Thein told cattle breeders in a recent meeting in the new capital.

According to the report, the cattle breeding zone will start implementation by next January to breed 20,000 milk cows, 100,000 ducks and one million chickens.

Myanmar's plan of setting up the cattle breeding zone in the new capital is to mainly breed milk cows in a bid to meet the daily rising demand of milk in the area, livestock breeders said, adding that the zone, which involves a milk processing factory, will be established in three townships of the capital.

The establishment is also aimed at reducing import of milk and other dairy products, the sources said.

Currently, Mandalay and Sagaing areas produce most of the milk and dairy

products.

According to official statistics, Myanmar imported 22.2 million U.S. dollars' condensed milk and 2.1 million dollars' milk powder and other milk food and malted milk in the fiscal year 2005-06 which ended in March.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has imported for the first time since last July from India high-quality nutritious feedstuff for milk cows to raise milk production, local reports said.

Source: Xinhua