Food security: Nigeria imports Danish cows to slash $1.5bn milk import bill

ABUJA: Nigeria is importing dairy cattle from Denmark as it aims to double its milk output within five years, part of a plan to cut dairy imports that cost the country $1.5 billion a year, Livestock Minister Idi Maiha said on Monday, as the food security has become a major topic around the globe.

This Reuters report shows how serious the food security issue is, as it has become a challenge, especially for the Global South, which lacks resources but houses an overwhelming majority of the world population.

Despite boasting one of Africa’s largest cattle populations, Reuters says, Nigeria’s milk output of 700,000 tonnes a year lags its annual consumption of 1.6 million tonnes.

This shortfall means the country imports around 60 per cent of its milk.

“Our goal is ambitious but achievable; to double Nigeria’s milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually in the next five years,” he said.

Maiha said Nigeria’s cattle population, exceeding 20 million, consists largely of low-yield pastoralist breeds.

A Nigerian farm has already imported over 200 heifers from Denmark, building its herd through intensive breeding, Maiha said.

So far, eight new pasture species have been registered, the first in 48 years, and a national strategy for animal genetic resources with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization has been launched, he said.

“With over 20.9 million cattle, 60 million sheep, and 1.4 million goats already, we are not starting from zero, we are building from strength,” Maiha said.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Rising temperatures, erratic rains, droughts and other related phenomena have complicated the job of ensuring food security.

Regions like Africa and South Asia are witnessing the worst of the climate change effects, notwithstanding the fact that these nations have very little to do with carbon emissions and resultant global warming.

Pakistan too is facing the challenge of food security. With 240 million people to feed, the country has grappling with water shortage and weather changes that adversely affecting the crop pattern.

Read more: Climate Resilient Livestock – Engine for economic growth and food security

One must remember the fact that per acre yield in Pakistan is very low, while the dairy sector isn’t producing milk and meat to a scale that can make the prices affordable for a very large majority.