Dairy Production Programme Trains 61,000 SmallHolders Farmers In 6 Years

The Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) programme has trained over 61,000 smallholders farmers on best practices for diary production while 84,000 cows were vaccinated and treated for massive milk production.

LEADERSHIP reports that over 63,000 farmers were also enrolled while it facilitated the supply of over 15 million litres of fresh milk to processors during its six-year intervention in seven states.

The programme, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and implemented by Sahel Consulting Agriculture & Nutrition Limited in collaboration with the government, dairy processors and other private-sector partners, formally held its closeout event at Crispan Suite in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Sahel Consulting established in 2010 is leading international development organisations to conduct in-depth market research on key value chains, analyse and shape policies, develop strategies, launch innovative businesses and ecosystem solutions to organise, convene and provide training programmes that promote sustainable agricultural development across Africa.

The programme began in 2020, implemented in Bauchi,Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Adamawa, Plateau and Taraba states.

The Managing Partner of Sahel Consulting, Temi Adegoroye while speaking at the occasion said over 61,000 farmers were trained in good diary practices while 63,261 others were directly enrolled and linked to the formal dairy supply chain.

He also stated that 26,207 farmers were trained on gender integration with 585 radio sessions across implementing states.

According to him, the farmers were organised into 2,663 Self-Help Groups, while 234 cooperatives were formed and registered with the respective state governments to strengthen their capacity to operate as organised dairy producer groups.