By Oluwaseyi Oduneye-Ogunwomoju
The Federal Government (FG) says strategic capacity development of grassroots farmers is key to the transformation of national dairy production.
Mr Idris Ajimobi, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Livestock Development, said this at the training of 100 small-scale dairy farmers in Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that training, facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, was based on dairy farming best practices.
Ajimobi said the initiative was timely and strategic to improving the capacity of dairy farmers.
According to him, the training is critical towards growing productivity, ensuring quality and building a sustainable dairy value chain that benefits rural communities and the nation at large.
“As we continue to push for self-sufficiency in livestock production, initiatives like this remind us that real transformation begins with empowering farmers at the grassroots.
“Let me reaffirm the unwavering commitment of the FG to the development of the livestock sector through policies, partnership and programmes that will unlock its full economic potential,” he said.
He urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity and further put to good use the lessons of the training.
Meanwhile, Dr Florence Kalulu, Oyo State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, said the initiative was a collective effort to advance the livestock sector and improve the livelihood of hardworking farmers.
Kalulu said, “I acknowledge the vital role small-scale dairy farmers play in our agricultural ecosystem.
“The farmers are the backbone of local milk production, contributing not only to food security but also to rural economic development.
“Your commitment and resilience continue to sustain the communities across this state and beyond.”
She, however, said that the FG was aware of the numerous challenges facing the dairy sector.
Some of the challenges, she said, are low productivity, poor animal health management, inadequate hygiene practices and limited access to modern techniques.
“These challenges, if left unaddressed, will limit profitability, quality and safety of milk produced.
“I reaffirm that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development remains fully committed to transforming the dairy sector in line with the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS).
“Our objectives are to raise productivity, improve farmers’ livelihood, reduce reliance on imports, and strengthen food and nutrition security across the country,” she said.
According to the state coordinator, the training is not just about learning, but more importantly, about transformation.
“We expect you to become ambassadors of good practices within your communities, sharing knowledge and inspiring others to improve their methods.
“We recognise that policies alone do not create change.
“Real impact happens when knowledge reaches the farmer, when skills are upgraded, and when farmers are supported to adopt better practices,” she said.
Mrs Racheal Eyitayo-Ariori, the President of the Women in Dairy Production Association (WIDPA), appreciated the government for taking note of the dairy sector.
According to her, when small dairy farmers are helped, the economy grows with a geometric dairy surplus in the nation.
While calling for greater inclusion of women in dairy production, she said that recognising South-West farmers for their efforts in agriculture was a good development.
“Oyo State is a key state for agriculture in this zone,” she said.
A participant, Mr Moyosore Olatunde, who claimed to have started dairy farming 13 years ago, said he wished to see more members of the younger generation venturing into dairy production.
“We need the younger ones to bring more innovative ideas, and such can speedily happen when the government supplies them with the necessary needs,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.mg)
Edited by Bukola Adetoye and Moses Solanke
