Caption (L-R): Honourable Commissioner of Environment for Kaduna State Mr. Abubakar Buba; Senior Manager, Raw Milk Supply and Production at Arla Foods, Mr. Snorri Sigurdsson; Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Mrs. Annika Hahn-Englund; Deputy Governor Kaduna State, Her Excellency, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe; Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Jens Ole Bach Hansen; and Honourable Commissioner of Business Innovation and Technology Mrs. Patience Pakai, at the Arla - Damau Open day event held at the Arla Farm in Damau, Kaduna State on Wednesday, 9th of October, 2024.
Arla Foods, the farmer-owned dairy co-operative, recently hosted its inaugural Arla-Damau Open Day where it gathered key industry stakeholders at the Arla Farm in Damau, Kaduna, to catalyze local dairy production in Nigeria.
The Arla Farm was honoured to bring together Kaduna state and Federal government officials, local dairy farmers, agricultural stakeholders, and students from veterinary universities among others to experience firsthand Arla’s cutting-edge milk production facilities and sustainable farming practices.
Since its inauguration in May 2023, the Arla Farm operates as a core component of the local dairy community in Kaduna where it collaborates with local dairy farmers to optimize milk production yields, prioritize animal welfare practices and support economic growth.
Attendees at the Open Day were given an exclusive tour of the farm, where they witnessed innovative dairy production processes, from cow welfare and feed practices to advanced milking technologies designed to ensure the highest quality milk. Guests also had the opportunity to visit the exhibition stands of about 20 local and international partner companies who showcased their dairy farming products and services during the open day.
Students from veterinary universities in the region participated in the event, gaining valuable exposure to practical applications of their studies. “It’s crucial that we encourage the next generation of veterinary and dairy professionals by bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world practices,” said Senior. Manager for Raw Milk Production Mr. Snorri Sigurdsson. “We hope that events like these will inspire more young people to pursue careers in sustainable dairy farming and agribusiness.”
The Open Day also highlighted Arla’s collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Agriculture and Kaduna State Government, underscoring the importance of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable growth in the Nigerian dairy sector. As part of this, Arla continues to support the Damau Household Project, an initiative by the Kaduna State government aimed at empowering local households through dairy farming.
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna state Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe stated that the Arla Farm is significantly strengthening the dairy sector, empowering local communities and contributing to the economy of the state.
“Today’s Open Day is a celebration of what we can achieve when we come together with a shared vision – a vision of a sustainable, innovative, and prosperous agricultural sector in Nigeria,” said Elele Ogunsanya, Senior Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager, Arla Global Dairy Products Ltd. “The Arla-Damau Open Day reinforces our core mission to empower local capacity and boost local production through our collective efforts and investments toward building sustainable dairy processes and infrastructure in Nigeria.
We have identified the need to share and spread our knowledge, and today we showcase some of the most advanced practices in sustainable dairy farming that not only reduce our environmental impact but also increase the efficiency and productivity of our operations.”
Arla’s commitment to support under the Partnership for Green and Productive Dairy (PGPD) project, its content development initiatives, green dairy farming practices, and integration of advanced technology continue to effect key developments in the industry’s journey to scaling local production and building a sustainable environment for dairy farmers to thrive. The Arla-Damau Open Day underscores the company’s progress on its ambition to strengthen local dairy production, support economic growth, and contribute to Nigeria’s food security.
About Arla Foods
Arla Foods is a dairy company with 9700 farm owners in seven Northern European countries. Its philosophy of producing natural, healthy, and high-quality dairy products dates back to the 1880s when dairy farmers in Denmark and Sweden joined forces with one common goal: to create and provide the best dairy products.
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