On Tuesday December 6, 2022, the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Kaduna
State -Malam Ibrahim Hassaini inaugurated Nestlé Nigeria MilkCollection Center atthe
Ladugga Grazing Reserve in Kachia LGA, Kaduna State.This milestone brings the milk
collection and cooling capacity of Nestlé’s Dairy Development Program to3000trs/dayin
Ladduga grazing reserve.
Nestlé, in partnership with CBI Innovations Limited, a social enterprise, is implementing
a 5-year dairy development project that aggregates smallholderdiaryproducers to
improve the productivity of the local dairy industry in Nigeria, supported by International
Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC-2CALE).
In her address at the opening ceremony, Victoria Uwadoka, the Corporate
Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Nestlé Nigeria said, “We are proud of the
progress we have made since thefirst engagementwith the Kaduna State Ministry of
Agriculture which culminated in the start of operations here in Ladugga Grazing Reserve
in 2021.”
“Nesté Nigeria’s dairy project is built on 3 pillars: Better Feed and Fodder, Quality Milk
Products and Resilient communities.We have made significant progress on these 3 pillars
and the opening of thisMilk Collection and Cooling Centre will help us consolidate on this
progress which has yielded year on year increase in milk volumes month on month. We
can safely increase the1,396L/day weare currently collecting in Ladduga, thanks to the
increased collection and chilling capacitywith the launch of this facility today.”
The achievement of milk volumesin Nestle’sdairy developmentproject is made possible
bytheengagement and empowerment of 77cooperatives and 31aggregators in the
Ladugga Grazing Reserve community. The project has also made significant investments
in improving herd health, improving infrastructureincluding provision of waterand the
establishment of cool chain infrastructure.
Speaking at the inauguration, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Agriculture, who was
represented by the Permanent Secretary Alhaji Manisibi Mohammed Kabiru thanked
Nestlé and CBI Innovations Limited“For initiating this laudable Milk Collection Centre in
Kaduna State to accelerate investment in thedairy sector of the state and to empower
pastoralists and smallholder farmers in the dairy value chain. Also, the timely intervention
of theproject will go a long way to support the State’s potential to utilize livestock
production merits, improve nomadic standard of living, foster the coexistence between
the farmers and herders and help to mitigate recurrent crisis.”
Victoria reaffirmed Nestlé’s commitment to contribute to the development of the dairy
sector in Nigeria through investments infarmer capacity building, infrastructure
improvement and novel technology to create sustainable routes to market for the
pastoralists.
To reach more pastoralists, Nestlé has started the installation of soar powered “Milk
Banks” within 300KM radius ofthe communitieswhere the pastoralists move to in search
of fodder and water. One is already installed at Crossing, near the Ladduga Grazing
Reserve. The technology, equipped with a single-phase compressor to achieve low power
consumptionto store and chill the mik collected at source, is the first of its kind in Nigeria.
“We will continue to scale up our milk collection efforts significantly by increasing our
footprint, leveraging ourMilk Banks,” Victoria Said.
“We are pleased with the work that our implementation partner, CBI Innovations Limited
is doing on the ground to deepen and acceerate an inclusive business model within the
project. Wewill continue to work with the Kaduna State Government andall stakeholders
towards achieving Nestlé’s purpose of unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of
life for everyone, today and forfuturegenerations.” she added.
Picture – Ladduga 1: Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture Alhaji Manisibi Mohammed Kabiru (middle) cutting the tape to inaugurate the newly built solar powered Nestlé Nigeria Milk Collection Center at the Ladugga Grazing Reserve in Kachia LGA, Kaduna State.
Picture – Ladduga 2 & 3: Guests at the inauguration inspecting some of the facilities at the newly built solar powered Nestlé Nigeria Milk Collection Center at the Ladugga Grazing Reserve in Kachia LGA, Kaduna State
