As the build up to this year’s World Milk Day hots up, stakeholders in the dairy sub-sector are strategising on how to get the authorities to pay greater attention to dairy products production in the country.
Part of the strategy is the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), Sahel Nigeria Limited and Agriculture Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN) to jointly celebrate the 2023 World Milk Day.
In 2001 the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) established the World Milk Day in recognition of the importance of milk as a global food.
This year’s event which will hold at the Trade and Convention Centre of ACCI along the International Airport road from 30th May to 1st June, 2023, has assured its theme, “Sustainable Dairy: Good for the Planet, Good for you.”
Speaking on the build up to the event in a joint statement by the organisers, Director General ACCI, Victoria Akai said milk is a very vital nutrient to healthy diet for human development especially for young and aged people.
According to her, “Research shows that many households depend on milk for their diets from cheese, beverages and baking foods of all kinds. However, in Nigeria, 37 percent of about 31 million children under five years are stunted, according to official figures by United States Agency for International Aid, (USAID) as a result of malnutrition. Thus, the need for more production of milk for consumption and national economic growth.”
She called on the necessary authorities in Nigeria to ensure adequate production of milk for sufficiency, adding that this will serve as a catalyst for business development and as well bridging the gap of local milk supply.
Also speaking, the Executive Director ACCI-NPAC, Mr Chidiebere Onwumere added that milk is rich in calcium, which promotes healthy teeth and bones. He said The reason for the commemoration of the day is to draw attention to the importance of milk to daily living.
He said the event marking the World Milk Day is to look at the entire dairy value chain and the challenges bedeviling sufficient local milk production which includes; poor milk collection and cold chain logistics systems, low cattle reproductive health, sparse adoption of modern dairy farming techniques among the dairy farmers.
He added that the major reason for this upcoming event is creating awareness about the benefits of dairy products and to push for increased consumption for a healthy nation.
Also, the Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN), the apex body promoting the interest of commercial dairy industry operators in Nigeria, Mr Dianabasi, said experts in the dairy industry and experienced industry practitioners will be on hand as speakers and panellists to provide invaluable insights on workable financing strategies that Nigeria can adopt to build a globally competitive dairy industry.
“CODARAN has been at the forefront of creating an enabling and business-friendly environment for the dairy sector in Nigeria, and the World Milk Day celebrations present a veritable platform to pursue this noble goal.
“Accordingly, the World Milk Day Conference, the grand finale of the mega celebrations on June 1, has as theme: “Pathways to Financing Nigeria’s Milk Revolution,” and will focus primarily on strategic funding options for dairy businesses in Nigeria. It will bring together dairy industry players, government agencies, development finance institutions and other financial service organisations with specialized funding programmes for the dairy industry” he said.
According to ACAN president, Mr. John Oba, the government should encourage more private sector investment in the sector to enhance Nigeria attainment of milk sufficient.
He said the event will give stakeholders the opportunity to x-ray the livestock sector and come up with unified agenda on how the sector can achieve milk sufficient within the shortest possible time.
It is expected that stakeholders will use the occasion to sensitise Nigerians on the National Diary Policy and National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP)
Meanwhile, the FMARD and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) backward integration has been commendable for the speedy implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).