Integrated Dairies, CODARAN train farmers on dairy production, cattle breeding

Selected farmers from communities in Plateau State have been trained on commercial dairy production and effective cattle breeding plan in order to boost local and fresh milk production and to generally develop the dairy sector. The two days training tagged ‘Dairy Business Development and Training Programme 2022’ was organized by Integrated Dairies Limited (IDL) in […]

Selected farmers from communities in Plateau State have been trained on commercial dairy production and effective cattle breeding plan in order to boost local and fresh milk production and to generally develop the dairy sector.

The two days training tagged ‘Dairy Business Development and Training Programme 2022’ was organized by Integrated Dairies Limited (IDL) in collaboration with the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN) and with support/funded by the Australian Government.

The training activities include how to set up a profitable dairy business, feed production, cattle breeding and health management (cross breeding analysis, etc), cattle healthcare management and dairy farm record and operation management.

In his welcome address at the opening ceremony, CODARAN President, Alhaji M.D. Abubakar, said the Dairy Business Development and Training Programme is a project conceived and designed to accelerate the process of job creation in dairy production and most importantly, work to increase the volume of milk available for collection locally. 

Represented by CODARAN Executive Director, Dianabasi Akpainyang, the president said the first run of the initiative was held in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State in December 2021, and the programme in Plateau State is the second in the series. 

“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) estimated that $1.5bn was spent on milk importation in 2020 to cover the huge milk production shortfall in the country. With population growth comes the possibility of higher demand for milk and dairy products. Population growth between 2020 and 2022 may likely create higher demand for imported milk and dairy products, and by extension, foreign exchange. 

“The time has indeed come for the local dairy sector to be developed through strategic and impactful actions so that much of the demand for milk and dairy products are met locally and the demand for foreign exchange for milk importation is reduced and ultimately eliminated.

“The Dairy Business Development and Training Programme is another scheme which portrays the association’s unwavering commitment to developing the dairy sector by supporting new entrants into dairy enterprise and building capacity of smallholder dairy producers. The programme in Plateau State is the second in the series.

“We note with commendation that Plateau State is among the first few states pioneering the adoption and implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan. The progress made in dairy development in particular and agriculture in general, justifies our choice of Plateau State for the second run of this programme,” he said. 

In his remarks, the Founder of Integrated Dairies Limited, Air Vice Marshall Ishaya Aboi Shekairi (Rtd), said Plateau State has a conducive environment for dairy farming and production.

He said one does not need to have a herd of cows to be in diary business, and that with four or five good cows, with each producing between 18 to 20 liters of milk per day, one is already in diary business.

Shekairi said a vital aspect of the training is how to make a cow produce between 18 to 20 liters of milk per day because ordinarily, a local cow can only produce a maximum of two liters of milk per day.