To spur growth in the dairy and animal industries, the federal government launched the national dairy policy.
A major goal of its National Development Plan (2021–2025) is to achieve sustainable national economy diversification, and Vice President Kashim Shettima introduced the proposal on Tuesday in Abuja.
The purpose of the publication was to provide a road map for reviving the dairy sector in the upcoming years.
The policy is the outcome of multiple conversations and meetings with important parties who were in agreement with the idea of a dairy industry in Nigeria that is both globally competitive and productive.
The 2024 Milk Day topic, “Harnessing Nutrition and Investment Opportunities in a Sustainable Dairy Value Chain,” was deemed especially noteworthy by Mr. Shettima during the document’s unveiling.
He stated that since its founding, the advantages of milk and dairy products have been aggressively pushed globally, demonstrating how dairy sustains the livelihoods of one billion people, through the representation of Kingsley Uzoma, his senior special assistant on agribusiness.
Dairy farming, according to Mr. Shettima, offers a lot of chances for job creation and economic growth for young people.
But he said, “These opportunities are not without challenges.” “The negative effects of climate change, disputes over grazing lands, and inadequate animal feed are common problems faced by our livestock farmers.”
He claimed that violent disputes over land use between farmers and cattle herders made the problems worse.
“The National Dairy Policy is being launched by the federal government in recognition of these challenges, with the aim of revolutionizing the dairy industry in Nigeria,” Mr. Shettima stated.
The initiative, according to the vice president, will address major challenges such the dearth of contemporary worldwide best practices for cross-breeding and calving, the high expense of mik, and inadequate transportation infrastructure.
Nigeria currently imports $1.5 billion worth of dairy products per year as a result of a supply shortfall.
Nigerians use 1.6 billion liters of milk on average, yet there is not enough milk produced domestically to meet demand.
“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to achieving national production security, with the ultimate objective of exporting dairy products to other African nations through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) in the long run,” he stated.
He claimed that putting the policy into effect will guarantee better dairy farming methods, more funding for dairy processing and preservation, the application of evidence-based policy, and improved cooperation.
By encouraging public-private partnerships, embracing technology and innovation, and boosting women-friendly and youth-centric business models, Mr. Shettima said it will also facilitate ease of business for the dairy industry.
He declared, “Its implementation will monitor and evaluate progress and promote good animal health practices.”
The national dairy policy, according to Aliyu Abdullahi, minister of state for agriculture and food security, is in line with the federal government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to reposition the cattle industry.
According to him, the agreement would foster an atmosphere that will facilitate and encourage the dairy industry’s expansion.
(NAN)
