The federal government yesterday hinted at plans to unveil a comprehensive new Dairy Policy come June 4th, 2024.
The policy will be officially unveiled by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, in a pivotal step towards self-sufficiency in dairy production and reduction in the reliance on imports.
Minister of state for Agriculture and Food Security, Sabi Abdullahi gave the hint in Abuja at an event to mark the 2024 World Milk Day.
This year’s celebration focused on Nigeria’s theme, “Harnessing the Nutrition and Investment opportunities in the Dairy Value Chain”, aimed to identify the critical role the dairy industry played in ensuring quality nutrition for Nigerians, particularly women and children.
According to the minister, the policy will introduce a series of programmes, projects, and interventions designed to enhance dairy farming practices, foster public-private partnership, promote animal health, increase investment in dairy processing and preservation to improve the shelf life and nutritional value of dairy products.
The new policy is also expected to accelerate ease of doing business in the country and foster implementation of evidence-based policies to strengthen data collection, supply chain, and market access and promote collaboration between the private sector and government agencies to raise awareness and coordinate efforts among others.
Abdullahi observed that the new policy became expedient particularly as stakeholders have raised concern that Nigeria can only bridge its estimated annual $1.3 billion dairy import when the federal government provides the needed infrastructure to drive investment and help reduce cost of production.
He expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and to all partners and stakeholders for their support in transforming the dairy value chain.
He stated that the collective efforts are expected to enhance food and nutrition security, improve livelihoods, and contribute to the nation’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
