Low milk production, inadequate cold chain networks, heavy dependence on imported powdered milk—Nigeria’s dairy sector faces longstanding challenges.
With more than 20 million cattle, Nigeria continues to spend over 70%—amounting to $1.5 billion—of its dairy products on importation to sustain local demand each year.
The small herd owners in Nigeria are locked in poverty cycles. In northern Nigeria, where animal husbandry is a mainstay, production has been cramped by the absence of modern networks to enhance production and efficiency for decades.
The average Nigerian cow produces less than 2 litres of milk per day, compared with the global average of 30 litres in developed dairy systems.
This deficit can hardly meet domestic consumption needs. The Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2023 Agricultural Outlook targeted Nigeria’s annual milk demand at 1.7 million metric tonnes.
Kaduna takes the leap
The Kaduna State Government is committing €10 million to the construction of the Arla Farm in Damau, Kubau Local Government Area, in what is described as an ambitious effort to modernise the national dairy industry.
The 400 -hectare dairy farm features the latest milk extraction technologies and cold chain technology.
At full capacity, the farm is expected to churn out between four and five million kilogrammes of milk annually, a significant boost to local supply.
A learning hub for dairy farmers
Apart from milk production, the ranch provides a demonstration site where nomadic livestock keepers and small dairy farms are trained on better breeding, feeding and livestock management practices.
Through initiatives such as the Nigeria Dairy Centre of Excellence and the SCREEN Project (Sedentarisation and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria), livestock keepers are being empowered with technology solutions to improve milk quality and sustainability.
The construction of a yoghurt factory at the ranch site will expand job opportunities to the local communities.
According to state officials, the Arla Farms reflects a shift from subsistence to commercial livestock production—a move that could attract further investment and reduce the country’s reliance on imported dairy products.
It also promotes climate-smart agriculture by encouraging sedentarised cattle-rearing practices that reduce open grazing and pasture degradation.
The initiative is not the first of its kind. In Kano, for instance, FrieslandCampina WAMCO operates a dairy development programme that connects local herders to formal milk collection systems.
Similarly, in Oyo state, there is the Iseyin Dairy Hub Project, training and milk collection schemes for nomadic Fulani herders to improve efficiency while decreasing post-harvest losses.
For all its promises, Kaduna’s Arla Farm faces a number of challenges. Scaling up production will require continued investment in infrastructure, cold storage, and veterinary services for national demand to be met.
The sustainability of advanced equipment maintenance in rural settings and the high costs of imported dairy technology are other notable concerns.
Besides, successful integration of herders will be crucial to avoid conflicts that could slow down the sedentarisation process.
Nevertheless, the Damau milk farm could become a blueprint for transforming Nigeria’s livestock economy—reducing imports, improving livelihoods and building resilience with rural communities.
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