The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has donated a portable motorised milking machine to FrieslandCampina WAMCO, while lauding the company as the biggest investor in Nigeria’s dairy sector.
The machine has a capacity to milk 50 cows a day.
Ogbeh made the symbolic donation while declaring open the National Livestock Conference organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation in Abuja.
The objective of the five-day conference, according to a statement by the Corporate Affairs Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Ore Famurewa, is to proffer solutions to major challenges of livestock production in the country, including farmers-herdsmen clashes
According to the minister, the donation is part of the FMARD’s commitment to public-private partnerships in improving dairy farming and “it is also in recognition of FrieslandCampina WAMCO as the biggest investor in local milk production in Nigeria.”
Ogbeh said he was satisfied with the peaceful co-existence of Fulani herdsmen and indigenes of the local communities where the company was currently operating its dairy development programme.
In response, the Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Mr. Ben Langat, expressed gratitude at the minister’s gesture and re-affirmed the company’s commitment to improving dairy farming.
He said, “We now have five milk collection centres across Oyo State, even as we strengthen the infrastructure for quality milk production, train local dairy farmers and continue to ensure high quality of milk for our consumers.
“We are also developing smallholder dairy farming businesses supported by feed development and cross breeding programmes to ensure sustainable dairy farming. Our plan is to ensure dairy farming remains economically viable by establishing the right structures and agricultural practices for sustainability.”
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