By Bisola Adeyemo
The Ikun Dairy Farm Limited (IDFL), a joint venture between Promasidor Nigeria Limited in collaboration with Ekiti State Government (EKSG), has started an integrated dairy industry in Nigeria with the first batch of pregnant jersey breeds cows from the United State, with the full aim of boosting local milk production in Nigeria.
Daily Times reported that, the Cargo with the
pre- ordered pool of over 500 heifers from the United States arrived at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport Lagos as an addition to the biological pool of 192 indigenous and crossbreeds available on the farm.
It was disclosed that Ikun Dairy Farm Limited through Promasidor and Ekiti State Government, with the immeasurable support of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), is working towards ensuring that more of the breed would arrive Nigeria in the coming weeks.
The shipments will provide a better breed of cows for the rapidly growing Nigerian dairy industry, in helping the diversification of the Nigerian economy.
The Counselor for Agricultural Affairs at the US Mission to Nigeria, Gerald Smith noted that the introduction of US dairy cows would boost local milk production and to contribute in a sufficient way to ensure the sustainability of food security in Nigeria.
Smith added that the successful cattle shipment was a result of the strong partnership among the
Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Mission in Nigeria, the Ikun Dairy Farm, and senior officials of the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, with strong support from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“The United States is the leader in producing dairy cows.
“Promasidor Nigeria Limited in partnership with the Ekiti state government and with the strong support of the CBN has successfully started an integrated dairy industry in Nigeria with the acquisition of the first batch of pregnant Jersey breed dairy cows from the US. A sustainable dairy industry requires modern genetic cows.
“This collaboration marks the beginning of an increase in milk production and the enhancement of the dairy value chain in Nigeria”, he said.