Khmer Fresh Milk Co Ltd is all set to begin distributing its dairy products to major supermarkets in Phnom Penh next week, co-founding partner Chy Sila told The Post on Thursday.

Operating the commercial dairy Kirisu Farm and processing plant, the company has a long-term vision to bring pure natural milk produced by modern agricultural techniques and food preparation and processing under world-class hygienic standards to the Kingdom’s market, he said.

He said the company currently stocks Bayon Mall’s shelves with its fresh milk, yoghurt and butter and plans to move on to branches of Lucky Supermarket, Aeon Mall and Makro Cambodia next week.

“Our products are delicious and are at reasonable prices, slightly lower than market prices,” Sila said.

In its current phase, the company’s processing plant is able to produce between 5,000 and 6,000 litres of fresh milk per day and will be able to churn out 10,000 once the production line is fully online, he added.

This is a considerable improvement from July 15, when Sila said the plant was only able to make between 2,000 and 3,000 litres a day.

During a visit to Kirisu Farm last week, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon said the investment project has helped boost local production and provide jobs for Cambodians.

He said: “The project will set a precedent in its use of smart, modern, state-of-the-art technology to rear livestock and produce milk that ensures quality and safety for consumers.

“All aspects of the production line are truly in line with the resolution and policy of the government to work with the private sector to promote the development of agro-industry and increase value-added, as well as to curb dairy product imports and ensure nutrition for children.”

Khmer Fresh Milk is a long-term partnership between Singapore-based Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar Development Fund II managed by Emerging Markets Investment Advisers (EMIA), Nexasia, a Japanese fund based in Singapore, and the founders group consisting of highly successful Israeli and local Cambodian entrepreneurs.

Working closely with Khmer Fresh Milk is Israeli technology partner Afimilk Agricultural Cooperative Ltd, one of the largest suppliers of dairy farm technology and management in the world.

Khmer Fresh Milk officially registered on July 26, 2017 and has invested about $10 million in Kirisu Farm.

The 300ha farm lies in a secluded valley in the Phnom Tamao mountain range, in Kandoeng commune’s Ukasaing village in Takeo province’s Bati district, nearly 40km south of Phnom Penh.

Khmer Fresh Milk general manager Kouch Sokly said the company has imported 560 Holstein heifers from Australia, of which 300 are producing milk. One cow produces an average of 20 litres of milk per day.

There are currently two other dairy farms in Cambodia – Moo Moo Farm in Lvea Em district’s Arey Ksat commune in Kandal province which has about 200 cows and produces between 1,300-1,500 litres of fresh milk per day.

Techo Sen Russey Trip Dairy Farm in Chheb district’s Chheb II commune in Preah Vihear province covers 70ha and has a production capacity of about 600 to 700 litres per day.