• Niger’s government approved the creation of a National Center for Livestock Production Improvement to boost local milk and meat output.
• The country imports an average of 6,000 tons of milk and cream annually, costing about CFA 9 billion ($15.8 million).
• Livestock contributes 8.7% to Niger’s GDP and 5% of export revenues, yet local production remains insufficient to meet domestic demand.

Niger’s government approved a decree on October 11 establishing the National Center for Livestock Production Improvement, aiming to enhance local breeds and reduce reliance on dairy imports.

Authorities said the center will design and implement a national policy to improve local breeds through scientific and genetic methods that can raise milk and meat productivity.

While the government has not yet detailed the center’s operational timeline or action plan, the move underscores a policy shift toward import substitution in the animal production sector.

Despite Niger’s large livestock population, the country continues to import milk and dairy products to meet domestic consumption needs.

“The Niger, despite its significant livestock herd, continues to rely on imports of milk and dairy products to meet population needs. This situation results from institutional shortcomings and inadequate production techniques,” the Council of Ministers said in an official statement.

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), Niger imported an average of 6,000 tons of milk and cream per year between 2019 and 2023, peaking at 10,910 tons in 2020. The related import bill reached an average of CFA9 billion ($15.8 million) annually, with a record CFA14.5 billion ($25.5 million) in 2020.

In 2024, Niger sourced its dairy imports mainly from Argentina, the Netherlands, Ireland, Malaysia, and France, according to data from the Trade Map platform.

Domestically, milk production is largely dominated by cattle farms, though smaller contributions come from sheep, goats, and camels.

A 2023 sector analysis by the INS reported that 17.7% of Nigerien households owning cows produce milk, revealing untapped potential within small-scale farming.

This article was initially published in French by Stéphanas Assocle 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum