FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria has partnered the International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), a science-based public organization, in a project that aims to boost milk production for pastoralist milk producers in Nigeria.
Through the partnership, the Nigerian subsidiary of the Dutch multinational dairy cooperative will work together with pastoralist milk producers in Oyo State, to boost the quality and quantity of local milk and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
Markedly, under the 2SCALE project, the dairy partnership seeks to alleviate the contribution of women in the country’s dairy farming sector by specifically focusing on women and their needs.
This dairy partnership involves 1,800 milk producers, of whom 950 women.
The project has integrated technology aspects that will give women and young men the opportunity to participate in technical, entrepreneurial and leadership training.
The project also seeks setting up water points at milk collection centres and a dairy scheme, which included crop farmers who were previously in conflict with pastoralists.
Women and youth were trained on milk quality, productivity, animal health, institutional development and other areas and encouraged to start their own businesses and take up leadership roles in cooperatives.
Preliminary indications are that women engage in many milk-related activities, such as milking the cows, collecting the water and processing milk into cheese, butter and fat.
In addition, through the activities, they contribute immensely to food security and supporting household activities in the pastoralist communities.
For over thirty years FrieslandCampina, through its Dairy Development Programme (DDP), has been working with dairy farmers in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe to help them to improve their livelihoods.
Among the countries where the group has focused on include; Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, China, Russia, Romania, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Dutch dairy cooperative aims at optimizing the milk chain through training and advising farmers to boost milk quality and productivity.
Friesland notes that knowledge partnerships, initiating and supporting projects have been the major pillars in the DDP – aimed at improving the dairy farming infrastructure.
The company says that the project has proved highly successful and has among others resulted in improved food security and nutrition, increased income for farmers and fewer conflicts between crop farmers and pastoralists.
This is in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals on poverty and hunger eradication and promoting decent work and economic growth among others.
FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria is a collaboration between Royal FrieslandCampina and local partners.
