NIGERIA – Promasidor one of Nigeria’s leading dairy processors in partnership with Ekiti State Government, have received 250 new Jersey cows from Texas, USA, an addition to its existing herd of 192 indigenous and crossbreed cows available on the Ikun Dairy Farm Limited (IDFL).
IDFL is a joint venture between the processor and the state government initiated in 2019, which saw Promasidor inject US$5m investment to reactivate the farm, as a catalyst that will turn around the economic fortune of the state.
The reactivation of the ailing industry, is also supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria aimed to ensure a daily production of about 10, 000 litres of milk in the country to further discourage its reliance on imported dairy products.
The US$5m investment is being used to purchase equipment, provide the appropriate herd of cattle, and develop an out-grower scheme for providing feed for the cattle.
10,000 litres of milk will be produced every day within the next 18-24 months
Ikun Dairy Farm is set to act as a model of backward integration in the sourcing and use of local raw materials for milk production.
Other than purchasing of the improved breed stocks to increase productivity, over 250 hectares of land has been cleared for the cultivation of hay, brachiaria and cassava at the Dairy Farm.
This land clearing, according to a tweet by Government of Ekiti State will sustain the out-grower scheme providing feeds to the cows.
As productivity and revenue increase, the farm is set to create hundreds of jobs directly for youths, and indirectly improve the economy of Ikun-Ekiti, neighbouring communities, and Ekiti State at large.
It is estimated that 10,000 litres of milk will be produced every day within the next 18-24 months.
To this end a speedy and reliable mode of transportation for rapid delivery to local markets and exports is needed.
According to the government, the Ekiti Cargo airport which is currently under construction will be an enabler of economic growth, central to evacuating agricultural products from the Special Agriculture Processing Zone (SAPZ) to distant markets and national/global supply chains swiftly and reliably.
“The Cargo airport is a critical component of this administration’s growth strategy to make Ekiti an agro cargo vehicle, a knowledge hub, and a regional hub serving the southwest and middle belt food basket region; attracting skilled migration to boost IGR; improving commercial activity as a “dry port” for fresh and processed products, and making Ekiti State a logistics hub in the agro-allied industry,” indicated Ekiti State Government.
Meanwhile, Promasidor Nigeria appointed Bruno Gruwez as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who took office in January 1st 2021.
Bruno took over the leadership of the company from Anders Einarsson, who has assumed regional responsibilities within the Promasidor Group.
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