The Milk Value Chain Foundation, in collaboration with the Confederation of Traditional Stock Breeder Organizations in Africa CORET, has organized a Dairy Value Chain Forum in Kaduna State to promote livestock development and improve milk production in Nigeria, with a particular focus on youth and women empowerment.
The forum aimed to train participants on modern livestock management and feeding practices, equipping them with the skills needed to boost milk production and become self-reliant.
The initiative was supported by the Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS and funded by Swiss Cooperation.
Speaking at the event, the Coordinator of CORET,
Dr. Abdu Umar Hardo, explained that the aims of the program is to transition traditional livestock systems into modern and sustainable models, while also creating economic opportunities for women and young people, particularly within pastoralist communities.
He emphasized that if youths and women embrace the initiative wholeheartedly, it would significantly reduce idleness and unemployment in Kaduna State and across the country.
Also speaking, the representative of the Milk Value Chain Foundation, Dr. Bilkisu Yusuf, expressed optimism that the partnership would deliver meaningful results and called on participants to apply the knowledge they acquired for the betterment of their communities.
In a presentation titled “Genetic Improvement for Enhanced Dairy in Nigeria,” Dr. Sabo Mohammed Abubakar urged governments at all levels to increase investments in dairy production and livestock feed development to boost the national economy.
In an interview with Radio Nigeria, an official from the National Commission for Nomadic Education, Abubakar Lawal Boro, described the forum as impactful, expressing hope that similar initiatives would be sustained to further support the development of pastoralist communities and contribute to national growth.
Also speaking, traditional leader Madakin Ladugga, Alhaji Salihu Yunusa, noted that his members had benefited from the forum, particularly on improving milk production through the role of aggregators.
Other resource persons at the event included Attahiru Alhassan Jaoji of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, who delivered a paper on “Concepts and Overview of the Milk Offensive in West Africa,” and Jonathan Jatau, who presented a paper on “Livestock Genetics Improvement for Enhanced Dairy in Nigeria.”
Participants were drawn from Damau, Ladugga, and Luma Kwasam communities, all located within Kaduna State.
Cov: Adamu Yusuf
