Nigeria unveils initiative to enhance dairy value chain for 1,000 households

NIGERIA – Kaduna State in Nigeria has set a target to assist over 1,000 households in improving milk production and value addition, according to Mrs. Patience Fakai, Kaduna State Commissioner for Business Innovation and Technology.

Speaking at the “Dairy Value Chain Forum and Responsible Business Conduct” workshop in Abuja, Mrs. Fakai noted the government’s vision to boosting the living standards by enhancing dairy production, especially in a region that is home to two of Nigeria’s major dairy stakeholders.

The announcement was made alongside the unveiling of a new comprehensive dairy training manual, which is designed to address the knowledge gap in the sector and introduce more sustainable farming practices.

Dr. Ishaq Bello, CEO of the Milk Value Chain Foundation, presented the manual, emphasizing its focus on modernizing traditional pastoral methods and introducing alternatives such as sedentary farming, which would allow herders and livestock to remain in one location for more efficient production.

The event, which was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Milk Value Chain Foundation, and other key stakeholders, attracted participants from academia and various sectors of the dairy value chain.

Dr. Bello highlighted the importance of shifting from traditional practices to more modern approaches to meet the increasing demand for dairy products in Nigeria.

He pointed out that while traditional methods have served well in the past, they are no longer sufficient for meeting the demands of modern dairy production.

In addition, the manual outlined techniques that could help dairy farmers increase yields while ensuring the health and welfare of their livestock.

During the workshop, Mr. Snorri Sigurdsson, Senior Manager at Arla-Dano, a Danish farmer-owned company, shared the company’s readiness to support local dairy farmers through training in value addition and other business models.

He also highlighted the pressing need for improved dairy production to meet the country’s growing demand. Arla-Dano has been working closely with local farmers, providing them with training and resources to enhance their dairy farming practices.

According to Arla, dairy can play a crucial role in addressing this challenge, but local production currently only meets 40% of the country’s demand.

To bridge this gap, Arla has established a fully operational dairy farm in Kaduna, which also serves as a training center for local farmers, students, and other agricultural stakeholders. The farm’s primary focus is on improving farm management, animal welfare, and sustainable practices.

In addition, Arla has been a member of Milky Way Partnership, a collaboration that includes the NGO Care Denmark, the Danish Agricultural and Food Council, and other local and international partners.

The partnership aims to improve the livelihoods of pastoralists and smallholder farmers in northern Nigeria, with a focus on scaling up sustainable dairy farming practices.

Through this project, Arla and its partners have provided essential resources such as boreholes and grazing pastures, which have transformed the lives of many local farmers.

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