Value 4 Dairy Consortium led by FrieslandCampina receives grant to boost the Nigerian dairy sector
Source: The DairyNews
Value4Dairy Consortium Led by FrieslandCampina Secures $5 Million Grant from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to Elevate Nigerian Dairy Sector
In a significant development, the Value4Dairy Consortium, spearheaded by FrieslandCampina, has garnered a $5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. This funding is set to drive enhancements in dairy productivity and sustainability within the Nigerian dairy sector.
Cofunding by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Established in April 2021, the Value4Dairy Consortium is a collaboration between four key partners—FrieslandCampina WAMCO, URUS, Barenbrug, and Agrifirm. This private sector consortium is dedicated to advancing systemic and sustainable local dairy production in Nigeria. The recent grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will support 50% of the Consortium's latest project.
Promoting Local Dairy Production
The project's primary goal is to modernize the Nigerian dairy sector and bolster small-scale milk production. The Consortium will establish three self-sustaining dairy zones in Oyo, Osun, and Abuja, run by local farmer cooperatives. These zones will serve as training hubs for 10,000 pastoralists and smallholders, expanding to include 40,000 milk producers in subsequent years. FrieslandCampina WAMCO will collect the aggregated milk for processing into nutritious dairy products to feed over 5 million Nigerians.
Key Objectives of the Program:
Additionally, the program is gender-intentional, including interventions to empower women, enabling them to participate in activities and earn additional income.
Jeroen Elfers, Global Dairy Development Director at FrieslandCampina, expressed their commitment to building local resilient dairy value chains and working towards a sustainable, self-sufficient, and inclusive dairy value chain in Nigeria.
Roger Adou, Managing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO, highlighted their aim to empower local farmers, increase milk production, and contribute to the agricultural prosperity of the nation.
Value4Dairy Consortium:
The partner companies URUS, Agrifirm, and Barenbrug have developed improved inputs for livestock farming: genetics, feed, and grass/pasture suitable for African conditions. FrieslandCampina WAMCO will be the main implementing partner in Nigeria, responsible for recruitment, training, cooperative setup, and infrastructure.
This initiative is poised to drive positive transformations in the Nigerian dairy sector, marking a crucial step toward sustainability and self-sufficiency.
Cofunding by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Established in April 2021, the Value4Dairy Consortium is a collaboration between four key partners—FrieslandCampina WAMCO, URUS, Barenbrug, and Agrifirm. This private sector consortium is dedicated to advancing systemic and sustainable local dairy production in Nigeria. The recent grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will support 50% of the Consortium's latest project.
Promoting Local Dairy Production
The project's primary goal is to modernize the Nigerian dairy sector and bolster small-scale milk production. The Consortium will establish three self-sustaining dairy zones in Oyo, Osun, and Abuja, run by local farmer cooperatives. These zones will serve as training hubs for 10,000 pastoralists and smallholders, expanding to include 40,000 milk producers in subsequent years. FrieslandCampina WAMCO will collect the aggregated milk for processing into nutritious dairy products to feed over 5 million Nigerians.
Key Objectives of the Program:
- Enhance dairy sector transformation.
- Improve food security.
- Raise farmer incomes.
- Enhance nutrition.
- Reduce conflicts between herders and farmers.
- Improve water access.
- Lower greenhouse gas emission intensity.
Additionally, the program is gender-intentional, including interventions to empower women, enabling them to participate in activities and earn additional income.
Jeroen Elfers, Global Dairy Development Director at FrieslandCampina, expressed their commitment to building local resilient dairy value chains and working towards a sustainable, self-sufficient, and inclusive dairy value chain in Nigeria.
Roger Adou, Managing Director of FrieslandCampina WAMCO, highlighted their aim to empower local farmers, increase milk production, and contribute to the agricultural prosperity of the nation.
Value4Dairy Consortium:
The partner companies URUS, Agrifirm, and Barenbrug have developed improved inputs for livestock farming: genetics, feed, and grass/pasture suitable for African conditions. FrieslandCampina WAMCO will be the main implementing partner in Nigeria, responsible for recruitment, training, cooperative setup, and infrastructure.
This initiative is poised to drive positive transformations in the Nigerian dairy sector, marking a crucial step toward sustainability and self-sufficiency.
