Kaduna targets 5 million kilograms annual milk output from €10m Arla farm investment
by Faridat Salifu
Kaduna State targets an annual milk output of about five million kilograms from its €10 million investment in Arla Farm if the farm operates in full capacity.
Disclosing this on Wednesday, at the Arla-Dano Open Day in Damau, Kubau Local Government Area, Governor Uba Sani expressed delight that the investment, which was made in 2023, has boosted local milk production and created both direct and indirect jobs since its establishment.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr AbdulKadir Muazu Meyere, the governor said his administration has instituted a strong institutional framework to ensure the sustainability and expansion of agricultural investments.
“In the livestock subsector, Kaduna State has the Kaduna State Livestock Regulatory Authority (KADLRA), the Kaduna State Livestock Transformation Company, and the Kaduna Ranch Development Company, all designed to work in synergy,” he said.
He pledged to strengthen the livestock industry, bridge infrastructure deficits, enhance market access, and attract investments to the state’s agricultural sector.
Governor Sani also expressed delight at unveiling the Nigeria Dairy Center of Excellence, the Sedentarization and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria (SCREEN) Project, and commissioning a new yoghurt factory.
He said these initiatives would empower smallholder farmers with modern techniques to improve milk yield and quality while supporting local milk sourcing. “This translates into more income for our farmers, more jobs for our youth, and more nutritious products for our people,” he added.
He expressed hope that the multi-stakeholder collaboration behind the Damau Milk Farm Project would galvanize sustainable growth in Nigeria’s dairy value chain, positioning Kaduna State as a national leader.
In his remarks, the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, who represented President Bola Tinubu, commended the Federal Government, the Kaduna State Government, and Arla for what he described as a “win-win initiative.”
Maiha lamented Nigeria’s low milk output, noting that the country produces only 0.7 million litres annually, far below national demand.
“Our per capita consumption of 8.7 million litres per year is well below the global average and the World Health Organisation’s recommendation of 210 litres per person annually,” he said.
He added that local productivity remains low, with indigenous cows producing 0.5 to 1.5 litres per day compared to the global average of 6.6 litres.
“The country spends over $1.5 billion annually importing milk and dairy products despite having millions of cattle and capable producers. This is a paradox we must correct,” the minister said.
Maiha explained that the Ministry of Livestock Development was created to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s livestock value chain, reduce dependence on imports, and mitigate farmer-herder conflicts.
He added that the Damau area is fast becoming Nigeria’s dairy hub with key interventions including Arla Farm, the Damau Household Milk Farm, and other Dairy Development Projects.
The minister said the Damau Household Milk Farm, initiated by the Kaduna State Government, involves the settlement of 1,000 households with improved cows, pasture, veterinary services, and social amenities, while Arla serves as the off-taker.
He revealed that the Danish Government is sponsoring two dairy development projects the Partnership for Green and Productive Dairy in Nigeria and the Sedentarization and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria (SCREEN) both aimed at promoting climate-resilient dairy production and documenting best practices.