The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development has stepped up efforts to revitalise Nigeria’s dairy industry by training 100 small-scale dairy farmers in Ibadan, Oyo State, with a focus on improving milk yields, quality and farm profitability.
The capacity-building programme, held under the supervision of the ministry’s Oyo office, exposed participants to modern dairy farming techniques, including improved animal husbandry, sustainable milk production, hygienic collection and basic processing methods.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Livestock Development, Idris Ajimobi, said the initiative is central to the administration’s drive for self-sufficiency in animal protein and reduced dependence on imported dairy products. He stressed that meaningful reform in the livestock sector must begin with empowering farmers at the grassroots.
Ajimobi explained that the training is designed to raise productivity, guarantee better-quality milk and strengthen a sustainable dairy value chain that can support rural livelihoods while contributing to national food and nutrition security. He urged beneficiaries to apply the new skills on their farms and serve as change agents in their communities.
Oyo State Coordinator of the ministry, Florence Kalulu, described smallholder dairy farmers as the backbone of local milk production, noting that their daily efforts sustain households and markets across the state. She, however, highlighted persistent challenges such as low productivity, poor animal health management, weak hygiene standards and limited access to modern practices.
Kalulu said tackling these constraints is essential to improving the safety and profitability of dairy products. She added that the intervention aligns with the National Livestock Growth Acceleration Strategy, which seeks to boost output, improve rural incomes, cut import bills and enhance nutrition for Nigerian households.
The training covered sustainable feed supply through pasture development and feed conservation, breed improvement, feeding regimes for milking cows, herd health management and proper milk handling. Participants also took part in classroom sessions, interactive discussions, pictorial demonstrations and hands-on practical exercises.
President of the Women in Dairy Production Association, Racheal Eyitayo-Ariori, commended the government for prioritising the dairy value chain and called for greater inclusion of women, arguing that targeted support for small-scale farmers can deliver significant economic gains.
One of the trainees, Moyosore Olatunde, appealed for more youth involvement in dairy farming, saying fresh ideas and innovation, backed by government support, could transform the sector. The ministry said participants received essential inputs, including heifers, feed and salt licks, and pledged to replicate and scale up similar programmes nationwide to modernise Nigeria’s livestock industry and secure long-term growth in dairy production.
