By Felicia Imohimi
The DANDALIN MAKIYAYA (Coalition of Herders) has called for the support of the Federal Government on improvement of cattle breeds through artificial insemination and genetic improvement programmes.
Comrade Pariya, National Organising Secretary of the organisation, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja in commemoration of World Milk Day.
The organisation said the gesture, among others, would enable the country meet local demand on milk production.
World Milk Day, commemorated annually on June 1, was established by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2001 and the theme for 2026 is “Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation”.
Pariya expressed concern over the current annual milk production of 600,000 metric tonnes to 700,000 metric tonnes describing it as grossly inadequate to meet local demand of 1.7 million metric tonnes annually.
“We expect the government to develop grazing reserves and ranching infrastructure, improve cattle breeds through artificial insemination and genetic improvement programmes: support fodder production and feed conservation; strengthen veterinary and extension services.
“Government should rehabilitate rural roads and electricity to support milk collection and processing; promote public-private partnerships in dairy development; implement policies that encourage local dairy production and processing,” he said.
Pariya identified the organisation’s efforts to meet domestic demand as training dairy farmers on improved management practices, introduction of high-yielding dairy breeds and crossbreeding programmes, establishing milk collection centres closer to producers.
Others, according to him, include encouraging cultivation of improved pasture and fodder crops, promoting commercial dairy farming and ranching systems, supporting women and youth participation in dairy enterprises, encouraging investments in milk processing and storage facilities.
“We also strengthen collaboration between farmers, processors, research institutes, and government agencies.
“These efforts are expected to gradually increase domestic production and reduce the supply deficit,” he said.
Pariya identified some of the challenges confronting the association as low genetic potential of indigenous cattle, inadequate feed resources especially during the dry season, access to finance and insurance, poor infrastructure, including roads, water supply, and electricity.
He identified others as inadequate milk collection, storage, and cold-chain facilities, high incidence of livestock diseases, farmer-herder conflicts and insecurity, climate change and environmental stress, weak extension and veterinary support services.
According to him, overcoming these challenges, the group recommends increased investment in livestock infrastructure, development of pasture and fodder banks, strengthening veterinary healthcare systems, provision of affordable credit facilities.
He further recommended the establishment of more milk collection and cooling centres across the country by the government, improved security in farming communities, increased funding for livestock research and extension services.
“We also recommended policies that encourage local milk production and discourage excessive dependence on imports.
“We expect government to work closely with industry stakeholders to implement sustainable dairy development programmes that can significantly increase national milk output,” he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited Ekemini Ladejobi
