NIGERIA – FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Nigeria leading dairy processor, has teamed up with the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) in a drive to transform milk production in the country.
This follows an agreement signed between the two firms led by FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s Managing Director, Mr. Ben Langat, and IFDC’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Albin Hubscher, reports Beverage Industry News.
Under the agreement, IFDC will leverage on its agribusiness incubator programme – 2Scale – to expand on FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s Dairy Development Programme (DPP).
The aim of the agreement is to sustainably transform and lead the local dairy sector in Nigeria by supporting the transition of local dairy farming into modern dairy farming and developing key structures required for a sustainable value chain.
FrieslandCampina WAMCO and 2SCALE will be collaborating to deepen the inclusive model for local sourcing of fresh milk in Nigeria in line with FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s DDP.
“As industry leader, FrieslandCampina WAMCO has established best practice models for local milk sourcing to thrive.
“By signing this partnership agreement we are demonstrating the need for partnerships in contributing to food security,” Mr Langat said.
Also commenting on the agreement, the Netherlands’ Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, H.E. Mrs. Sigrid Kaag affirmed that given the consistent result FrieslandCampina WAMCO has recorded in local milk sourcing, Nigeria has the right partner to stimulate growth in the industry.
She confirmed the progress of the company’s DDP and observed the integration of sustainability initiatives throughout the company’s operations and the DDP in particular.
“FrieslandCampina WAMCO runs a stellar operation; you have changed the status quo in local milk sourcing and are playing a key role as a private sector partner in achieving the SDGs,” she said.
Over the years, the DPP has been improving the livelihood of smallholder dairy farmers, deepening the dairy market, increasing the volume of fresh milk from empowered dairy farmers.
The programme has also created employment by empowering women and youths both on-farm and off-farm which has contributed to enhancing the country’s food safety and nutrition.
As part of its efforts to revive the country’s dairy sector, the Federal Government of Nigeria has said that it is in the process of establishing a National Dairy Policy that will help in boosting milk production as well as develop other dairy products.
The new policy seeks to address challenges of the Nigerian dairy sector with a focus on infrastructure development, processing, dairy husbandry, quality control, product development, industry and sectoral cooperation.
