Ahead of the World Milk Day celebration, Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Mohammed Abubakar says this year’s celebration in Nigeria will focus on the development of the dairy sector.
The Minister said this at a media briefing in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
The minister said the Ministry of Agriculture would also seize the opportunity to showcase its achievements in the livestock subsector.
“The Ministry, just like other partners, will use the opportunity of the event to showcase her achievements in milk production, collection, processing and transportation as well as enlighten Nigerians on achievements of National programmes on Pasture Development, Animal Feed and Feed Security, Breeding and Conservation, Dairy Development, among others under the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP)’
Dr. Abubarkar disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development through the Bank of Agriculture will provide financial empowerment to livestock farmers to enhance their productivity and resilience. He noted that government has approved the National Dairy Policy for Nigeria.
“I am also happy to inform you all that the Federal Executive Council has approved the National Dairy Policy for Nigeria to guide operations in the Dairy Value Chain.”
Dr Abubakar said that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will continue to collaborate with relevant organizations, institutions and associations in addressing the nutritional needs of Nigerians through milk and dairy development.
While adding that the government will continue to provide an enabling environment for increased milk production, processing, distribution and consumption to improve the nutritional status of Nigerians, create jobs along the dairy value chain and reduce national expenditure on the importation of milk and milk products.
Foreign investment
The President of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) who was represented by the Director General Victoria Akai, said “Through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s backward integration, the dairy sector was revitalized and has attracted foreign investment and creation of ranches across the country.”
She called on all stakeholders in the dairy sector to take advantage of the event to come together and make it worthwhile.
The representative of the president of the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria Mr Dianabasi Akpainyang said the main objective of the celebration is to help create a competitive, enabling lucrative environment for dairy sector stakeholders in the country.
The 2023 World Milk Day celebration which is scheduled to hold in Nigeria from 31st May to 1st June 2023 is organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Ltd and the Agricultural Correspondent Association of Nigeria.
Emmanuel Ukoh
