FG, Arla Foods to develop dairy sector

The federal government and Arla Foods, the maker of Dano milk and one of the world’s largest dairy co-operatives, have entered into an agreement to develop the Nigerian dairy industry.  Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, the minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the MoU highlighted Nigeria’s quest to develop […]

The federal government and Arla Foods, the maker of Dano milk and one of the world’s largest dairy co-operatives, have entered into an agreement to develop the Nigerian dairy industry. 
Speaking at the signing ceremony in Abuja, the minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the MoU highlighted Nigeria’s quest to develop its dairy industry,  
 The minister said: “What you’re doing excites me a lot because Nigeria is at a critical time in its development. The population is growing extremely fast. We have a large number of children malnourished, almost 27 per cent. We have a school feeding programme and dream of a day when every child should have sufficient meals per day.  
“From the cattle breeding improvement programme, we are looking at a near future when a family in the city outskirts can keep poverty away with three or four cows. The Nigerian dairy market is huge, with about 450 million consumers by 2050.’’ 
The Regional Office Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Arla Foods, Mr Steen Hadsbjerg, said the partnership would open new window of job opportunities, increase farmers’ wealth and expand investment opportunities. 
Arla Foods is an international dairy company owned by 12,700 farmers from Denmark, Sweden, UK, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.