The Federal Government announced the launch of a National dairy Policy to promote and develop Nigeria’s dairy industry and consumption.
This was disclosed by Alhaji Muhammad Nanono, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, at the opening of a Wider Stakeholders Engagement on National Dairy Policy on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Minister disclosed that Nigeria needs to maximise its potential in the sector and induce renewed interest in the development of the Diary sub-sector, particularly in recognition of the nutritional and livelihood importance of milk and other dairy products in Nigeria.
READ: Milk Import: Experts advise CBN on FX restriction
What the Minister is saying
- The industry is largely subsistent and consists of local milk production, importation, processing, marketing and consumption. The consumption of aggregated and bulk milk is less than 20 percent of the local potential.
- The long neglect of the livestock sector has put a lot of burden on the import bills of the country.
- To facilitate this growth, the Ministry is presently collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Raw Material Research Development Council (RMRDC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
- The Ministry of Agriculture is also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the private sector, to promote and develop the local dairy industry.
The Minister said the collaboration with other Federal MDAS on Nigeria’s Milk policy will create a National Dairy Policy which would be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approval.
READ: FG states reason for $100 charges, others imposed on Nigerians in diaspora
What you should know
Nairametrics reported that the Federal Government announced the launch of the National Livestock Breed Improvement Programme (NALBIP), urging that it will reduce herdsmen/farmer clashes and also boost dairy cattle production in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s milk production estimated at 600,000 MT accounts for only 13% of West African production. Currently, domestic production dwarfs local demand (estimated at 1.3MMT), leading to a shortfall that has often been met by imports.