Julianah 
THE Federal Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has launched an intervention programme aimed at increasing local milk production.The Permanent Secretary in the agric ministry, Dr Abdulkadir Mua’zu, made this known while addressing participants at a two-day workshop on good dairy practices, which held at Momak Hotel, Iseyin, Oyo State.
Represented by an Assistant Director in the department of Animal Husbandry Services, Akeem Ibilade, Mua’zu, stated that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in line with the present administration’s agricultural promotion policy (Green Alternative) and the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) has put in place an intervention programme called Cattle Breed Improvement Programme (CABIP).
“CABIP is a private sector-driven, government-enabled genetic improvement programme aimded at sedentary small scale farmers’ herd in dairy clusters and pre-urban dairy farms. CABIP aims to encourage more private sector investment to increase local milk productionthrough artificial insemination to attain an average milk yield from less than 500 litres per cow per lactationb to 2,000 litres per cow per lactation in five years.
“Other components of the programme include: organising milk producers into cooperatives to access improved dairy cattle inputs including finance and for ease of milk off take for processing and government support for entrepreneurs in forage production, processing and marketing.” He said.
He also, hinted that under the new programme, the ministry has finalised plans to profile the over 6,500 prospective farmers who has shown interest in the programme.
“More Nigerians are encouraged to join the programme. The ministry is supporting breed upgrading by training artificial inseminatorsand supporting them with Artificial Insemination kits and motorcycles to ease their movement and for wider coverage.
“Talks have also reached advanced stages with provate service providers of Artificial Inseminations and relevant government agencies for sustainability of the programme,” he said.
Mua’zu, also stated further that ministry is supporting dairy clusters with milk cooling tanks and supporting establishment of milk collection centres in states with comparive advantage for milk production for adequate off-take and reduce milk wastage.
He, however, exppressed the ministry’s profound gratitude to Friesland Campina-Wamco Plc and her partners for the success of the dairy development programme in Oyo State.
“This workshop being first of its kind to be organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with Friesland Campina WAMCO and supported by Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited and IFDC/2 Scale is aimed at proferring practical solutions to critical areas of milk production.
“It is bringing together diverse stakeholders in the dairy industry and creating linkages and networks among them to achieve good dairy farming practices.” He concluded.
Source: Tribune