Nigeria plans livestock census in 2016 to capture diary potentials – Ogbeh

                                 

The minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has lamented that Nigeria loses over $1.3 billion annually to importation of dairy products.

The minister lamented that “this was unsustainable and unacceptable with the huge potential Nigeria has to, not only produce enough dairy for its consumption, but for export purposes”.

Ogbeh made the assertion when he received a delegation of WAMCO, an affiliate of Royal Friesland Campina(Netherlands) and makers of Peak Milk Nigeria, led by the Chairman Moyo Ajekigbe in Abuja Yesterday.

According to Ogbeh “we have massive lands all over the country so we can create paddocks which will have water wells and enough grazing facillities to persuade the Fulanis settle down and fatten their cows and stop roaming” we must simply bring roaming to an end” he said

He assured that the ministry in the shortest possible time will look towards partnering with some universities to look at the best varieties of cattle and preparing them towards improved dairy produce as against roaming which lowered the value of the cattle.

Ogbeh hinted at the possibility of a livestock census in 2016 towards ensuring Nigeria has appropriate data of its cattle and diary potential, saying “ If we know the number of animals we can know the litre of diary produce to expect”

He said “ we will work to stop roaming,build water wells along the grazing routes and start paddocks at various locations in the country”

Earlier while making a presentation on the purpose of their visit, WAMCO’s managing director, Rahul Colaco said as one of the worlds most succesful diary producers their target “was to partner the government towards improving the nutritional value among children through the daily school feeding programme for primary children to commence soon”.

He observed that “over 1,000 children below the ages of 5 died daily as a result of malnutrition and assured WAMCO which had worked in Nigeria for over 60 years was committed to maximising the role of small holder farmers ,scaling up their programmes of activities to other states of the federation and creating suitable routes for farmers to sell their produce.”