A consortium of four leading international organisations with proven track records, namely FrieslandCampina WAMCO, URUS, Barenbrug and Agrifirm, announced their co-operation as strategic partners to accelerate the Nigerian dairy sector.
The partnership was officially formed on Tuesday at a
virtual event which attracted stakeholders in the private and the public
sectors.
The consortium brings to the dairy sector specialised milk
collection and processing (FrieslandCampina WAMCO), better breeding (URUS),
proper roughage production (Barenbrug) and fitting animal feed (Agrifirm).
The partners are expected to integrate the dairy sector and
formulate homegrown methods to solve challenges, which previously hindered
growth.
According to these experts, the dairy development gains made
by FrieslandCampina WAMCO in Nigeria still need public sector collaboration to
scale up and expand.
Speaking at the launch, Ben Langat, managing director,
FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC, explained: “Over the past months, we have
discussed with these partners on ways to accelerate the progress of the Nigerian
dairy sector.”
Langat said that the goal of FrieslandCampina WAMCO was to
invest in local business models to enable the dairy sector become
self-sufficient and profitable throughout the entire chain.
“Only a sector with a healthy return on investment can be
self-sufficient and will survive in the long term,” he said.
“We are proud to state that these three professional
companies with proven track records believe in developing the Nigerian dairy
sector with FrieslandCampina WAMCO. They are top of the global expertise in the
dairy sector with proven performance and excellent reputation as well as
maintain world-leading market positions,” Langat noted.
The consortium is already working on steps that will
increase local milk production and processing, which will include combined
infrastructures for the distribution of milk and semen.
They will train farmers to succeed more with better cow
semen, grass seeds and feed supplements. The business model along the entire
dairy chain is expected to become more efficient and attractive to further
investments; with the ultimate ambition of promoting a thriving and
self-sustaining dairy sector.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has welcomed the initiative,
saying it will transform the industry. He was represented by the Minister of
Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Niyi Adebayo.
“With FrieslandCampina WAMCO as the processor to deliver the
end chain, this partnership will drive increased domestic consumption of
processed milk and milk products and the expected industry growth,” Osinbajo
said.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Alhaji
Mohammed Sabo Nanono also commended the consortium saying: “I am confident that
the consortium will drive inclusive engagement and positively influence the
development of national livestock initiatives at various levels of government.”
The partnership is built on the companies’ global
achievements and experiences with which they will accelerate sustainable dairy
development to deliver high quality nutrition for everyone involved in the
dairy chain from farmer to consumer.
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