A review of the state of dairy production in Nigeria

Nigeria’s population is projected to approximate 400 million by 2050, and food security is essential for sustaining a stable, cohesive, and secure nation. This reality indicates that the existing reliance on imports for the food requirements of Nigerians must be reduced, which can be accomplished primarily through substantial investments in agriculture to enhance productivity and self-sufficiency. Livestock farming, encompassing dairy production, is a sector of significant interest and strategic importance for economic diversification and food security. Nonetheless, the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s overall agricultural output is markedly minimal, necessitating strategic measures to stimulate sustainable development. The dairy sector in Nigeria necessitates immediate attention due to numerous challenges, including substandard animal husbandry practices, inadequate and low-quality feed, prevalent diseases and insufficient animal health management, restricted access to water in the dry season, detrimental impacts of climate change, minimal investment in research and development, infrastructural deficiencies, and limited access to financing. This review acknowledges the significance of developing homemade solutions to address local issues by establishing clear objectives to enhance milk production through increased productivity among both smallholder and commercial dairy farmers, while promoting backward integration in milk production, collection, and aggregation.