The Kaduna State Government has invested €10 million in the establishment of Arla Farm at Damau in Kubau Local Government Area to modernise livestock production, attract private investment, and strengthen the state’s position in Nigeria’s dairy industry.

Governor Uba Sani, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, said during the Arla-Dano Open Day in Kubau that the project was designed to transform livestock production, bridge infrastructure gaps, and create sustainable employment opportunities for residents.

According to him, the facility is expected to produce between four and five million kilogrammes of milk annually when it reaches full operational capacity. He added that since the farm’s establishment, milk output and local employment have significantly increased, marking a major milestone in Kaduna’s agricultural transformation agenda.

The governor highlighted that his administration had created institutional frameworks to sustain the growth of the livestock subsector, including the Kaduna State Livestock Regulatory Authority, the Kaduna State Livestock Transformation Company, and the Kaduna Ranch Development Company, all working together to strengthen the dairy value chain.

He also expressed satisfaction with the unveiling of the Nigeria Dairy Centre of Excellence, the Sedentarization and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria (SCREEN) Project, and the commissioning of a new yoghurt factory. These initiatives, he said, are geared toward equipping smallholder farmers with modern technologies to enhance milk quality, improve productivity, and build resilience against climate change.

“These initiatives will empower our farmers, increase income, create jobs for our youth, and provide nutritious dairy products for our people,” the governor said.

He commended the strong collaboration between the state government, private sector investors, and development partners, describing it as a model for sustainable agricultural development. “We believe that the Damau Milk Farm Project will stimulate economic growth and position Kaduna as the leading dairy hub in Nigeria,” he added.

Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Livestock Development said the Arla Farm represents a successful outcome of the federal government’s local content and backward integration policy, which encourages private sector participation in domestic agricultural value chains.

Source - https://msmeafricaonline.com