The Danish Embassy in Nigeria has suggested that Nigeria should embrace ranching rather than cow grazing in order to achieve its goal of being self-sufficient in milk production.
Speaking on behalf of the Danish Embassy in Kaduna on Thursday, Mr. Paul Jacob, Sector Councillor on Foods and Agriculture, expressed his opinion that Nigeria has no trouble importing milk products into the nation with 21 million cattle if ranching is completely implemented in the nation.
Speaking at the Milk Value Chain Foundation’s Dissemination Workshop on Setting Up of Damau Household Milk Farm Cooperative, Mr. Jacob bemoaned the fact that, despite having 21 million cattle, his country produces some of the least milk in the world.
He was of the opinion that Nigeria could quadruple its current milk production status with intensive attention on enhancing feed crop, weight improvement with a focus on milk, good management on how to bring the components together, and settlement of cattle in one location.
He stated that Denmark had determined that food and agriculture were essential to their activities in Nigeria and that they were striving to make sure the programs were fully implemented in Nigeria.
We’re working to achieve changes in dairy farming because we don’t understand how a nation with 21 million cattle still has to import milk.
We totally concur that something needs to be done, and we are actively exploring ways to facilitate the change so that the nation may become self-sufficient in milk production.
Looking to the enormous arable land and the diligent farmers working in the fields, he expressed his belief that it is achievable in Nigeria and said that these are the two crucial elements in the transformation process and the correct conduct of business.
He remarked that raising cattle is a long-term endeavor; it takes time to increase cattle output and time to enhance breeding. He was of the opinion that, with full effort, milk production might be tripled or quadrupled in the nation, so boosting economic growth.
The Damau Household Milk Farm Cooperative was established in Ruwan Sanyi-Damau, Kubau Local Government of Kaduna State, according to Dr. Ishaq Bello, the Chief Executive Officer of Milk Value Chain Foundation, to ensure the sustainable operations of Damau Household Milk Farm, a project of the Kaduna State Government.
