The European Union (EU) has reiterated its dedication to helping Nigerian dairy farmers overcome key challenges that affect the quality and quantity of milk production.
Among the main obstacles identified are water shortages, high costs of vaccines and medicines, and limited access to quality cattle feed.
Recognising the broader difficulties in the dairy sector, the EU outlined plans to assist farmers in improving storage facilities and enhancing critical production inputs like feed and water. These efforts aim to boost product quality, increase productivity, and raise farmers’ incomes.
During a recent visit to Kaduna-based Naturell Dairy—a member of EuroCham Nigeria actively contributing to the sector’s growth—the EU team gained firsthand insight into the successes and ongoing challenges of dairy farming and processing in the country.
Inga Stefanowicz, Team Leader for Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, explained that the visit coincided with the rollout of new EU support initiatives targeting agriculture, including the dairy sector. The focus is on improving incomes, creating jobs, and stimulating growth for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
“Our goal is to enhance the entire dairy value chain—from milk production and collection to transportation, processing, and storage—to ensure greater efficiency and productivity,” Stefanowicz said.
Addressing farmers and plant workers, she added, “As a donor organisation, we fund numerous initiatives in Nigeria. We recognise agriculture’s vital role in economic growth and job creation, but also the many challenges it faces. That’s why we want to support dairy farmers and other players in the value chain to benefit all stakeholders by increasing incomes, opportunities, and public health.”
Stefanowicz emphasized the importance of tailored support: “We’re meeting with farmers, companies, and stakeholders to understand their needs better. For instance, feed quality directly affects milk yield, so addressing this is crucial.”
Increasing milk supply to processors like Naturell Dairy would not only boost production but also improve local access to dairy products, promote business growth, and generate new income opportunities for rural communities.
Christian Idakwoji, Sales Manager at Naturell Dairy, highlighted the company’s commitment to sourcing milk directly from local farmers and providing training and livelihood support.
“We collect milk organically from farmers’ own cows, giving them a sustainable income. However, transporting milk without spoilage remains a challenge due to inadequate cold storage infrastructure, such as cooling vans,” he said.
Idakwoji noted that while roadside cooling points have been established and farmers are being trained in milk handling, further support is needed, particularly for aggregators and logistics, to reduce spoilage and improve efficiency.
Local dairy farmer Abubakar Muhammed welcomed the EU’s intervention, citing water scarcity, expensive vaccines, and poor-quality feed as major constraints. “We often rely on unhygienic streams for water. Access to clean water, quality feed, and affordable medication is urgently needed to improve our cows’ health, productivity, and income,” he said.
Stephen Joshua, an aggregator working with Naturell Dairy, echoed these concerns: “Most farmers here own about 40 cows, but milk yields vary due to feed quality. Currently, each cow produces only around 2 litres daily. With EU support, we expect less spoilage and a significant increase in productivity.”
