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By Chinyere Anyanwu
In celebration of World Milk Day (WMD) 2022, Outspan Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of ofi (olam food ingredients), has distributed rich compound animal feed and launched a modern cold truck for raw milk in addition to training farmers on modern dairy farming.
The activities underscored Outspan’s determination to scale its backward integration programme and value chain development efforts.
Other activities executed by the company on Wednesday, June 1, in Kano, included the donation and distribution of educational gift items to pupils to enhance learning in local schools.
Speaking at the event, Praveen Paulsamy, the Vice President of ofi Dairy in Nigeria, represented by Manish Khede, Regional Manager, said, “we prioritise investment in key areas of the local dairy value chain. Our scaled growth actions as seen in the launch of the cold truck for our Milk Collection Centres (MCCs); the distribution to smallholder farmers, rich compound animal feed comprising cottonseed cake, among others, which contain a high level of fibre and protein that nourish dairy cattle; the lecture on modern dairy farming practices; and the distribution of useful stationery items to pupils, underpin our strategic approach to improving the local dairy sector, the livelihood of smallholder farmers, and the host communities, in line with the Federal Government agriculture and economic development agenda.”
World Milk Day is observed globally to emphasise the importance of the dairy sector to the world economy. The theme for this year’s observance covers sustainability in the dairy industry, as well as nutritional, environmental and socioeconomic empowerment. Through its robust backward integration programmes, Outspan has frequently executed growth projects in collaboration with the Kano Dairy & Livestock Husbandry Cooperative Union (KADALCU), to expand capacity in the dairy sector, drive improved productivity and enhance smallholder farmers’ livelihoods.
Outspan continues to demonstrate its goal of driving real growth in the local dairy sector through the implementation of several initiatives under its “Milk Mission” programme, its signature dairy value chain development vehicle on a sustainable basis. Under the programme, some of its previous sustainability efforts and value chain development initiatives include the strategic location of four MCCs close to dairy farm clusters, cattle vaccination and artificial insemination exercises for over 100 cattle. The business seeks to empower and build capacity through workshops to expose smallholder dairy farmers to modern farming practices.
