The Adamawa State Government has assured stakeholders that it will sustain the gains recorded under the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) programme, which concluded with a close-out event in Yola. The five-year programme aimed to strengthen Nigeria's local dairy value chain and improve the livelihoods of smallholder dairy farmers. Implemented by Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, the programme was a collaborative effort with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Admiral's Dairy.
The ALDDN programme was implemented across seven states, including Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, and Taraba. In Adamawa State, thousands of smallholder farmers, predominantly women, benefited from the programme. They were organised into cooperatives and supported with financial inclusion initiatives, modern dairy farming practices, and infrastructure such as solar-powered boreholes and milk collection centres.
Beneficiaries of the programme also received animal health interventions, Artificial Insemination (AI) services, and access to direct off-take arrangements with Admiral's Dairy. This provided farmers with a more reliable market for their milk and opportunities for steady income. The programme's interventions aimed to improve the livelihoods of rural women and enhance the local dairy value chain.
Speaking on behalf of the Adamawa State Government, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Livestock and Aquaculture Development, Dr. Nyalas Barth, commended Sahel Consulting and its partners for their contributions to transforming the local dairy value chain. He assured stakeholders that the state government would continue to support the cooperatives established under the programme and sustain milk collection structures.
The Adamawa State Government's commitment to sustaining the programme's gains was echoed by traditional rulers, pastoralist leaders, dairy processors, and other stakeholders. They pledged their commitment to sustaining the milk collection channels and other structures established under the programme. This collective effort aims to ensure that the programme's interventions continue to benefit dairy farmers and communities beyond the five-year implementation period.
The close-out event provided stakeholders with an opportunity to reflect on the programme's achievements and discuss measures to ensure its sustainability. The programme's impact on the local dairy value chain and the livelihoods of smallholder dairy farmers was highlighted, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for continued support and collaboration.
Sustaining the achievements of the programme is expected to improve livestock productivity, strengthen rural livelihoods, and create more economic opportunities for dairy-producing communities across the state. The Adamawa State Government's pledge to sustain the programme's gains has raised hopes that the local dairy sector will continue to thrive, benefiting farmers and communities alike.
Key points
- The Adamawa State Government has pledged to sustain the gains recorded under the ALDDN programme.
- The programme was implemented across seven states, including Adamawa, Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, and Taraba.
- The programme's interventions aimed to improve the livelihoods of rural women and enhance the local dairy value chain.
