By Jide Akinseye
he Federal Government has intensified efforts to reposition Nigeria’s dairy industry through grassroots capacity-building programmes aimed at improving productivity, strengthening value chains, and reducing dependence on imported milk products. A recent training initiative in Ibadan, Oyo State, underscores renewed policy focus on empowering smallholder dairy farmers as key drivers of national food security and livestock transformation.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s dairy industry through targeted grassroots empowerment, following the training of 100 small-scale dairy farmers in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The programme, organised by the ministry, was designed to equip participants with practical skills in modern dairy farming, improved animal husbandry, sustainable milk production techniques, and efficient handling and processing practices aimed at boosting output and quality.
Speaking at the training, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajimobi, described the initiative as a critical step toward building a more productive and self-sustaining livestock sector.
He noted that meaningful transformation in dairy production must begin at the grassroots level, where farmers are directly engaged in daily production activities.
“As we continue to push for self-sufficiency in livestock production, initiatives like this remind us that real transformation begins with empowering farmers at the grassroots,” Ajimobi said.
He added that improving productivity, ensuring milk quality standards, and strengthening the dairy value chain remain central to the government’s livestock development agenda, urging beneficiaries to apply the knowledge gained to improve production within their communities.
Also speaking, the Oyo State Coordinator of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, Dr. Florence Kalulu, highlighted the strategic role of smallholder farmers in Nigeria’s agricultural and dairy ecosystem, describing them as the backbone of local milk production and rural livelihoods.
She noted that despite their importance, dairy farmers continue to face structural challenges including low productivity, poor animal health management, inadequate hygiene practices, and limited access to modern farming technologies.
According to her, addressing these gaps is essential to improving the quality, safety, and profitability of dairy production in the country.
Dr. Kalulu explained that the training aligns with the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy (NL-GAS), which is aimed at boosting productivity, reducing milk import dependency, improving rural incomes, and strengthening national food and nutrition security.
“This training is not just about learning, but about transformation. We expect participants to become ambassadors of good practices within their communities,” she said.
The programme covered key technical areas including pasture development and feed conservation, breed improvement, feeding strategies for milking cows, herd health management, milk hygiene practices, and opportunities in milk collection and processing systems.
In her remarks, the President of the Women in Dairy Production Association (WIDPA), Mrs. Racheal Eyitayo-Ariori, commended the Federal Government’s renewed attention to the dairy sector, calling for stronger inclusion of women in dairy development programmes.
She stressed that empowering small-scale dairy farmers has significant multiplier effects on household income, rural employment, and national milk production capacity.
One of the participants, Moyosore Olatunde, who has been engaged in dairy farming for over a decade, expressed optimism about the future of the sector, while urging greater youth participation to drive innovation and expansion.
He noted that sustained government support would encourage more young people to see dairy farming as a viable agribusiness rather than a subsistence activity.
The training featured a combination of classroom sessions, practical demonstrations, and interactive field exercises. Participants also received basic production inputs such as heifers, feed supplements, and salt licks to support improved milk production and herd management.
The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development reaffirmed its commitment to scaling up similar interventions across the country as part of broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s livestock industry and enhance sustainable dairy production nationwide.
