Denmark’s Minister Counsellor in Nigeria, Jacob Erikstrup, on Wednesday said his government and some Danish companies are committed to helping Nigeria bridge the gap in local milk production.
While speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the minister said that despite the large importation of milk produce from Denmark to Nigeria, there was a need to increase local milk production.
Mr. Erikstrup said that Danish Company Arla Foods, had, therefore, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Ministry of Agriculture to increase local milk production in the country.
“As a way of encouraging local milk production in Nigeria and other West African countries, Danish Company – Arla Foods – has introduced `The Milking Way to Development’ to Nigeria’s Ministry of Agriculture.
“The Milking Way to Development is a programme aimed at making Nigerian local farmers become better milk producers for local consumption and even for export.
“We are actually looking at the possibility of seeing more Nigerians produce more themselves even if there will still be importation from Denmark,’’ he was quoted as saying.
The Minister Counsellor said that it was important for Nigerian local milk producing farmers to increase their milk production to serve the growing population and market.
Erikstrup said that while Nigeria was currently importing “thousands and thousands of milk produce from Denmark, Nigerian local farmers were still producing less milk for local consumption”.
“Nigeria currently imports thousands and thousands of tonnes of dairy products from Denmark, while less tonnes of milk are being produced in Nigeria.
‘’We need to know that Nigeria has an increasing population that would also continue to lead to a high demand for milk.
“Nigeria still needs to import milk produce for quite some years ahead but, it all depends on how quick she can make the transformation of her agriculture sector a reality,” he said.
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