The federal government has called for the promotion of private sector investment and public-private partnership to grow the dairy industry.

Winnie Lai-  Solarin, director, Animal Husbandry Services, ministry of agriculture and food security stated this during a presentation to mark the 2024 World Milk Day on Wednesday in Abuja.

The director said this would boost local production of milk and dairy products in the country.

She said that the Nigerian dairy industry had undergone a transformative journey, evolving from traditional practices to modernised systems aimed at meeting the growing demand for milk and dairy products.

“This sector which is pivotal to the nation’s agricultural and economic development has faced numerous challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, fluctuating milk yields and limited access to advanced technologies.

“Nigeria is the largest market for dairy products in West Africa, with a population of over 200 million people.

“The dairy industry has significant potential for growth and development, contributing to food security, employment, and economic growth,” she said.

Ms Lai-Solarin called for increased investment and commercialisation of the animal feed and folder sector to enhance food and nutritional security.

She said the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP) was inaugurated in 2019 to modernise livestock production, including dairy farming through improved breeding, better grazing practices and enhanced veterinary services.

She said there was also a policy that focused on reducing dependency on imported milk and dairy products by boosting local production.

Ms Lai- Solarin said the way forward to address some of the challenges in the dairy industry was to improve access to finance, technology and training for smallholder farmers.

She said that there should be investment in infrastructure development for milk collection, aggregation, processing, and distribution.

Ms Lai- Solarin also stressed the need for veterinary services and disease management to be enhanced.

She said that the national dairy policy should be implemented and regulations strengthened to support the industry’s growth.

(NAN)