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Nestlé Nigeria, in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Administration, has set a target to achieve a daily milk production of 30,000 litres by November 2027.
This goal is expected to be met through the improvement of local cattle breeds and the adoption of best dairy farming practices.
Speaking at the launch of the Nestlé Dairy Demonstration Farm in Abuja on Thursday, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Wassim Elhusseini, highlighted the company’s commitment to livestock development.
The project is being executed in partnership with the Fertilizer Development Centre and CBI Innovation Limited.
Elhusseini stated, “The Nestlé Livestock Development Project, which is structured around three pillars: Better Milk, Better Feed, and Resilient Communities, has invested over N1.8bn and currently aggregates an average of 6,000 liters of fresh milk per day from 1,600 dairy households. The programme aims to produce 30,000 litre of milk by November 2027”
He further emphasised the project’s impact, saying, “With the strong support and collaboration of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, the project has established 83 dairy cooperatives, benefiting 3,000 milk producers and aggregating over 1 million liters of raw milk, significantly increasing their monthly revenue.”
Elhusseini also provided insight into the project’s achievements, noting, “During this time, we vaccinated over 34,744 cattle and provided access to water through 19 boreholes and over 28 water troughs constructed in pastoralist communities. We have also improved milk quality while reducing milk rejection from 12 percent in 2021 to as low as 5 per cent in 2024. This has increased milk producers’ revenue from N70,000 monthly to N250,000.”
Minister of Livestock Development, Muktar Maiha, commended Nestlé Nigeria for its dedication to backward integration and sustainable agricultural practices.
He described the farm as a “definite milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards achieving food security, economic growth, and sustainable livestock development and transformation.”
He reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting the livestock sector, stating, “As the federal government works tirelessly to diversify our economy, we recognize the critical role livestock production plays in creating jobs, generating income, and improving dairy farming. Nestlé’s investment aligns seamlessly with our national agenda for livestock development.”
Maiha also outlined the multiple benefits of the project, including “enhancing productivity by integrating climate-smart sustainable practices, building the capacity of local farmers through training, and providing a reliable source of income for thousands of families in our rural communities via the milk collection center and hub in Pakonkore.”
He assured stakeholders of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development’s commitment to addressing key industry challenges such as “inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance, and the need for enhanced veterinary services.”
Mandate Secretary for Agriculture and Rural Development at the FCTA, Lawan Geidam, also praised the initiative, emphasizing the transformative impact of public-private partnerships.
“This event stands as testimony to the power of collaboration and innovative thinking. More importantly, it aligns perfectly with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which aims to foster genuine growth and development in our country,” he said.
He highlighted the livestock sector’s economic importance, stating that it “plays a pivotal role within the broader agricultural framework, contributing significantly to our GDP by generating employment opportunities and enhancing food security.”
Geidam encouraged Nestlé to ensure that the demonstration farm “serves as a model for best practices in dairy farming, offering retraining and capacity-building opportunities for pastoralists and smallholder farmers.”
Elhusseini reinforced the project’s long-term vision, stating, “This demonstration farm is not just a symbolic launch. It is a practical model for implementing best dairy practices, showing how settled cattle breeding methods can significantly increase production by providing a safe environment for cattle and their owners.”
