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Nigeria Loses $1.3billion Annually To Dairy Importation – Chief Audu Ogbeh

Dairy-productsThe minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh has revealed that Nigeria loses over $1.3 billion annually to importation of dairy products.

Ogbeh lamented that “this was unsustainable and unacceptable with the huge potential Nigeria has to, not only produce enough dairy for its consumption, but for export purposes”.

The Minister made the assertion when he received a delegation of WAMCO, an affiliate of Royal Friesland Campina(Netherlands) and makers of Peak Milk Nigeria, led by the Chairman Moyo Ajekigbe in Abuja on Monday, December 7.

According to Ogbeh “we have massive lands all over the country so we can create paddocks which will have water wells and enough grazing facillities to persuade the Fulanis settle down and fatten their cows and stop roaming” we must simply bring roaming to an end” he said

He assured that the ministry in the shortest possible time will look towards partnering with some universities to look at the best varieties of cattle and preparing them towards improved dairy produce as against roaming which lowered the value of the cattle.

Ogbeh hinted at the possibility of a livestock census in 2016 towards ensuring Nigeria has appropriate data of its cattle and diary potential, saying “ If we know the number of animals we can know the litre of diary produce to expect”

He said: “ we will work to stop roaming,build water wells along the grazing routes and start paddocks at various locations in the country”

 

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