‘How to make Nigeria’s dairy industry achieve sustainable goals’

FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc has envisioned that with ongoing efforts and interventions within the dairy sector, dairy farming in Nigeria would be a force to reckon with globally in 2030.

Riding on this optimism, the company stated that there was need for managers of the economy to come up with improved policies, create conducive and enabling environment for businesses to thrive, support investment in research and development, boost economic empowerment programmes and infrastructure development; as well as support sustainable food production and farming practices.

The Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Nigeria PLC, Ben Langat, during the Dairy Farmers’ day celebrations in Iseyin, Oyo State, said for the dairy sector to function optimally, there is an urgent need for increased access to finance and credit facilities; access to land for grazing, pasture, feed et al; improved reviewed policies, clear regulations on land ownership in different parts of the country.

He also advocated the need for improved research in animal health and nutrition as well as technologies for enhancing dairy farming, empowering more smallholder farmers with well-established ranches; improved and availability of modern farming methods and equipment.

In his words, “Availability of variety of dairy products, improved yield of milk in litres per cow per day, 100 per cent local sourcing of milk for dairy firms, markets for the milk products from farmers organised dairy clusters and cooperatives, well established dairy communities with well developed facilities- schools, hospitals, access roads across dairy zones, potable water, regular electricity are all critical for achieving sustainable dairy production in the country.”

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh, said the celebration of the dairy farmers’ day is apt and critical especially at a time when concerted efforts are being made towards diversifying the nation’s economy while also reiterating the federal government’s commitment to the DDP initiative of FrieslandCampina WAMCO.

He commended the company for its laudable initiative aimed at boosting dairy production while also developing local content with the help of its DDP scheme across different parts of Oyo State.

The Minister who was represented by the Acting Director, Animal Production and Husbandry Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, John Taiwo, expressed the Ministry’s preparedness to create the enabling environment in making Nigeria self sufficient in dairy production.

“We will not only be self sufficient, but also a net exporter of dairy products in the nearest future. The awareness created by this event will elicit investors both local and foreign to invest in the dairy value chain and would also create ample investment opportunities in livestock production,” he said.

The Governor, Kebbi State, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, said the company’s programmes aimed at improving the nutritional needs of the country is a reflection of its love and believe in the Nigerian economy.

He said dairy farming can attract big investment opportunities and open up partnerships critical for the development of the sector in the country.

He noted that the federal government is willing to support business models to unlock some of the potentials that are germane to economic development while also commending FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s efforts and commitments in its quest to making Nigeria self sufficient in dairy production.