Government to continue collaborative efforts to boost milk production

The Nigerian government says it would continue to ensure collaborative efforts with stakeholders in the dairy industry to boost production in the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria Dr. Ernest Umakhihe stated this at the Mega celebration of the World Milk Day in Abuja Nigeria’s capital city.

The World Milk Day Mega Celebration in Abuja was put together by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN) and Centre for Journalism and Innovation Development (CJID).

Dr. Umakhihe in his welcome address said the ministry will ensure backward integration to develop the indigenous Dairy industry.

“Determined attempts by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and its partners to intensify backward integration look inwards and develop our indigenous dairy industry in line with Federal Government policy on increased use of local content has started yielding positive results, part of which is this year’s collaborative Mega World Milk Day Celebration”

According to him, “amidst other efforts to boost the dairy production in the country, the Federal Executive Council has approved the National Dairy Policy to guide the operation of the Dairy sub-sector”

“The Policy is to scale up milk production, collection and processing in the country and create enabling environment for increased activities along the dairy value chain” He noted.

He further stated that the collaborative efforts between the ministry and other stakeholders has yielded Capacity building and empowerment programmes for dairy farmers on hygienic milk production and processing Construction and equipping of milk collection centers in areas with comparative advantage for dairy, feed-milling facilities for production of ruminant feeds, pasture collection centers, animal handling centers, cattle feedlots, climate smart poultry and goat houses, among others.

CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, represented by Mr. Hassantom Abdulrahman from Development Finance Department in its goodwill message commended the key role of Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN) in the Bank’s efforts towards facilitating Dairy Value Chain Development.

According to the CBN, Real Sector Support Facility-Differentiated Cash Reserve Requirement (RSSF-DCRR) is to the tune of over N40 Billion Naira.

It also noted that the World Milk Day Conference is an avenue to strengthen and foster alliances and expand our opportunities to the global field which will in turn offer new opportunities towards more viable and sustainable financing strategies for the dairy businesses in Nigeria, towards self-sufficiency.

The 2023 World Milk Day Mega Celebration featured different lectures delivered by the MD/CEO of the Bank of Agriculture in Nigeria Mr. Hassan Alwan and an agribusiness expert from Kenya Mr. David Maina paper presentations, panel discussions, question and answer segments had dairy companies from across the country in attendance.

Various recommendations were made by stakeholders to further boost the dairy industry in the country, they includes;

I. Compliance of the Government to the 2003 MAPUTO DECLARATION of 10% annual budgetary allocation to agriculture by African Union member states;

II. Bank of Agriculture Development and Commercial banks should provide flexible collateral requirements and reduce interest rate on lending to smallholder dairy farmers;

III. Formation and registration of dairy value chain clusters and cooperative societies;

IV. Encourage local fabrication and production of food-grade dairy equipment for milk collection transportation and processing;

V. Improve investment in animal health services to reach community levels;

VI. Provision of extension services to pastoralists and farmers to imbibe the culture of pasture production to ensure sustainable production.;

VII. Increased investment in climate adapted Dairy Breed improvement and development of indigenous dairy breeds of animals with the aid of private sector driven research and development

VIII. Smallholder dairy farmers should be encouraged to adopt a settled form of production with intentional pasture production for adequate feeding and increased production.

IX. The need to update data on dairy production and livestock to reflect true production and consumption outlook and for adequate planning,

X. Adoption of Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHPs) by dairy farmers to ensure hygiene and sustainable environment

XI. Government at all levels to encourage education and capacity building of the un-schooled smallholder farmers;

XII. Government to endeavour to provide one litre of milk per week for Nigerian children of primary and secondary school age to eliminate malnutrition and enhance healthy development.

The Mega celebration was 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.

Foluke Ibitomi