FG to Scale Proven Dairy Models to Boost Milk Production Across Nigeria

News in Brief:

—Nigeria plans to replicate successful dairy models country-wide as L&Z Integrated Farms doubles its milk collection capacity from 10,000 litres to 20,000 litres.

—The company operates nine solar-powered Milk Collection Centres, serving over 4,000 dairy farmers, as the government prioritises genetic improvement.

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to transform Nigeria's dairy industry by identifying and replicating successful models that improve livestock genetics, expand milk collection, strengthen pasture development and deploy technology to increase productivity across the dairy value chain.

Minister Idi Mukhtar Maiha disclosed this during the third day of his working visit to Kano State, where he inspected key dairy and livestock facilities aimed at increasing domestic milk production and improving cattle breeding.

He visited the L&Z Integrated Farms Milk Collection Centre (MCC) in Kadawa, Kura Local Government Area, the Kadawa Artificial Insemination and Genetics Centre in Garum Malam Local Government Area, and the Kano Livestock Service Centre in Bagauda.

Government to Replicate Successful Dairy Models

Maiha said Nigeria's dairy transformation would depend on stronger collaboration between government, private investors, development partners and livestock producers.

According to him, scalable innovations that deliver measurable results must form the foundation of the country's livestock development strategy.

He commended L&Z Integrated Farms for its continued investments in milk aggregation, farmer development, cold-chain infrastructure and irrigated pasture production, describing private-sector participation as critical to reducing Nigeria's dependence on imported dairy products.

Minister Highlights Importance of Data

The minister also praised the company's digital database of dairy farmers, describing reliable data as essential for effective planning and service delivery across the livestock sector.

"Data is fundamental to livestock development. It enables government and investors alike to understand farmers' needs, design targeted interventions and measure impact. This is exactly the direction the sector should be taking," he said.

A major highlight of the visit was the commissioning of the upgraded L&Z Milk Collection Centre in Kadawa, where milk handling capacity has increased from 10,000 litres to 20,000 litres.

Maiha described the expansion as a significant milestone that would improve milk collection, minimise post-harvest losses, strengthen quality assurance and create a more efficient cold-chain system connecting pastoral communities with processors.

L&Z Supports More Than 4,000 Dairy Farmers

The management of L&Z Integrated Farms, led by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Muhammadu Damakka Abubakar, said the company operates across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the dairy value chain.

The company disclosed that it has established nine solar-powered Milk Collection Centres across Kano, Jigawa and Bauchi states, serving more than 4,000 smallholder dairy farmers organised into 53 cooperatives across over 850 settlements.

Chief Operating Officer Dr Adelaja Ayo said the centres have significantly reduced post-harvest milk losses through modern chilling facilities while improving farmers' access to markets, livestock feed, financial services and potable water.

"Our major focus is to ensure the sustainability of the dairy industry by developing smallholder farmers, who remain the nucleus of dairy production in Nigeria," Ayo said.

He added that the company plans to onboard an additional 3,000 farmers before the end of 2026.

During the facility tour, the minister inspected modern milk preservation systems and irrigated pasture projects designed to ensure year-round availability of livestock feed and improve dairy productivity.

FG Prioritises Livestock Genetic Improvement

At the Kadawa Artificial Insemination and Genetics Centre, Maiha reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to accelerating livestock genetic improvement as a strategy to increase milk yields, enhance meat production, and improve indigenous cattle breeds.

After observing semen collection, evaluation, preservation and artificial insemination procedures, the minister commended the Kano State Government for upgrading the facility into a modern livestock genetics centre.

He, however, stressed that the institution should go beyond artificial insemination by focusing on genetic improvement, breeding research and innovation.

"This centre has enormous potential. We must begin to operate it commercially through carefully structured Public-Private Partnerships. It is not just an artificial insemination centre; it is a genetics centre. Artificial insemination is only one of the services it provides. The focus must be on genetic improvement, research, breeding and supporting the transformation of Nigeria's livestock industry," he said.

Minister Calls for Stronger Biosecurity

Maiha also advocated stricter biosecurity measures, improved management of bull breeding and expanded pasture development to maximise the centre's productivity while protecting valuable genetic resources.

He further encouraged the introduction of more high-performing cattle breeds adapted to Nigeria's production systems alongside continued improvement of indigenous breeds.

The minister concluded his visit at the Kano Livestock Service Centre in Bagauda, where he inspected ongoing livestock development initiatives aimed at improving animal production, strengthening livestock infrastructure and enhancing service delivery in line with the Federal Government's food security and economic diversification agenda.