Public and private sector parties work together to tackle the current hurdles that hamper the dairy sector in Nigeria from growing and becoming more profitable. Settled farming plays an important role in the development of the Nigerian dairy sector.

Both public and private sector parties see the opportunity for the dairy sector and have therefore decided to collaborate and tackle the current hurdles that hamper the dairy sector in Nigeria from growing and becoming more profitable. Since its inception the DDP focused mainly on supporting the Fulani milk producers in order to improve the quality and increase volumes of the milk. The following activities have been carried as part of it: improving milk collection infrastructure by investing in milk collection centres and milk trucks Organising practical workshops, field tours, seminars and trainings for community livestock workers and farmers on different topics, e.g. raw milk hygiene Partnership with cooperatives, to improve their performance Good Dairy Farming Practices introduced

While continuing their assistance to Fulani milk producers through the Dairy Development Programme, FrieslandCampina initiated in 2016 a specific intervention to foster the emergence of small-scale professional dairy farms in Nigeria. FrieslandCampina is partnering together with Wageningen University and International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC) within the facility for Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Food Security (FDOV) of the Dutch government to implement the Dairy Zone concept. Only after approval of the Dutch government the partners can start with implementing the project. A dairy zone is an area where 30-50 farmers are established, these farms/farmers will be supported by the project and services, in addition, inputs and machinery will be shared among the dairy farmers. The farmers will be supported by animal health technicians and farm advisors. They will be trained by the project, i.e. Training of Trainers approach. Several farmers will be nominated to be the master farms; these farms will enjoy additional support and serve as example farmers in order to foster capacity building. Other important elements of the project are improving dairy cow genetics; improving/developing feeding strategies and infrastructure development. Settled farming will enhance the milk quantity and quality due to the availability of better feed (roughage) and water, increased access to infrastructure and services. More and higher quality milk means a better income for the farmer. The income will also be more regular compared to nomadic farming. In addition, settling down increases the familys access to public services like schools and hospitals.

FrieslandCampina will be responsible for the management of the project. The partners together are responsible for the execution and direct investment in building the specialised dairy zone in Nigeria.

FrieslandCampina WAMCO, the Nigeria Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the 2SCALE program