NIGERIA – Dairy farmers in Nigerian Kano state have reported significant improvements in productivity due to investments in the dairy value chain by Outspan Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Olam Food Ingredients (OFI).
Outspan Nigeria initiated a backward integration programme in the dairy sector in 2019 in collaboration with the Kano Dairy Cooperative Union aiming at enhancing dairy farmers’ capacities, upgrading milk collection and storage facilities in farming clusters, and improving cattle health support.
These efforts have led to increased herd productivity and reduced open grazing, which previously caused conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.
Hassan Muhammed Imam, a senior lecturer at the Kano State Polytechnic and technical assistant to the senior assistant to the state governor on cooperative groups, noted that Outspan Nigeria’s involvement has allowed dairy farmers to settle in one place, reducing the unnecessary movement of herds that had historically led to disputes between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers.
“Conflict issues between the herdsmen and farmers have been in existence for decades. The intervention of the business has ensured the herdsmen can access feed for their cattle without roaming around farmlands. This arrangement has led to harmony in the communities,” Imam stated.
She added that the initiative has also positively impacted the income of dairy farmers and increased school attendance among their children.
Salisu Dahiru, a dairy farmer and the financial secretary for the Kano Dairy Cooperative, mentioned that before Outspan’s involvement, localities in Kano experienced frequent crises.
However, since the partnership began in 2019, these crises have declined by approximately 7%. “The business provided us with feed that reduced grazing. They also train us on how to raise dairy herd productivity,” Dahiru explained.
He added that while dairy farmers’ wives previously hawked their milk in local markets, they now sell directly to Outspan Nigeria, allowing them to spend more time at home.
Chioma Eze, dairy sales manager, B2B, for Outspan Nigeria, expressed satisfaction with the progress made over the past five years.
“It has been five years since we embarked on this journey with Kano Dairy Cooperative Union, and we are very pleased to see the results of all our hard work come to fruition,” Eze remarked.
She highlighted the growth of the project from a small pilot to a successful venture.
“We will continue to consider opportunities that enable quality investments in developing the local dairy value chain to drive more productivity in dairy farming communities,” Praveen Paulsamy, vice president of OFI’s dairy business in Nigeria affirmed.
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