(Ecofin Agency) - FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria Plc, has launched a milk collection plant with a per day capacity of 12,000 litres of raw milk and an annual capacity of 4.32million litres in Oyo State, Nigeria. With the new plant FrieslandCampina’s per day milk gathering capacity in the country has reached 40,000litres.

“This is FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s fifth milk collection plant in Oyo and will see over 10,000 small-holder farmers participate in the process and earn good income,” said the company.

FrieslandCampina has been gathering milk from more than 70 communities and 7,200 farms in the state since 2011, under its Dairy Development Programme (DDP). According to the Managing Director of the company, Ben Langat (photo), milk production is still at a very low level, but through the DDP, the country can boast of quality milk while also empowering 900 women.

“Our company has taken a strategic and comprehensive approach to developing the DDP, focusing on key projects, programme content and enabling facilities. But these investments needs policies and socio-economic infrastructures to realize a robust dairy farming sector that can serve over 180 million Nigerians,” he explained.

Langat added that with the new plant the distance being travelled to deliver milk for bulking would reduce and quality milk can be managed before being transported to the factory.

Anita Fatunji