Nigerian consumes eight litres of milk annually, below WHO recommendation ― FAO

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations has said that malnutrition is prevalent in Nigeria because of the low consumption of milk and other dairy products.

FAO Country Representative, Fred Kafeero said the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended milk consumption of 210 litres per person annually, while an average Nigerian consumes about eight litres of milk annually.

This is just as the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) said that Nigerian cows produce about 1.5 litres to two litres of milk daily.

Kafeero said Nigerian cattle produce less milk due to low investment and slow government policy intervention which would have provided incentives for increased dairy production.

Kafeero was speaking at the World Milk Day conference organised by the Commercial Diary Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN).

“We were told by statistics that about 37 per cent of the children in this country under 5 years are stunted with 21 per cent severely stunted, other groups of the population particularly the women are equally suffering from malnutrition.

“Yet, the World Milk Day always reminds us that milk and dairy products have proven nutritional benefits and are the central component of healthy diets.

“They are rich in key nutrients necessary for growth and development of the body. Milk as we know is a natural source of protein necessary for building our bodies. It has minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus that play an important role in maintaining strong bones and teeth, and it is rich in the B series category for vitamins.

“The World Health Organisation recommends milk consumption of 210 litres per person per annum, the average in Africa is about 40 litres per person per annum, Nigeria significantly varies and statistics shows it is around 8 litres per person per year. That is a very low consumption rate.

“There are many structural and operational factors responsible for the majority of our people not having access to affordable milk,” he said.

He said the reason for low milk production in Nigeria could be as a result of the cost of the processed milk which is largely imported. Also the raw milk according to him is expensive for rural dwellers to afford.

“For some, it is the cost of the milk, many urban and rural folks can’t afford consuming milk on a regular basis, and that is true, it is expensive, especially when you are talking about processed milk, and even the raw milk they consume is also expensive for the poor people in those rural areas.

“We acknowledge that the domestic production of milk of about 500,000 metric tons is quite low, the supply gap of 1.2 metric tons means that many people go without milk, and because the large portion of this is imported, it also means you have to dig deeper into your pocket to buy the processed milk and dairy products,” Kafeero noted.

He, therefore, said for things to change in the dairy sector, a superior breed of cattle needs to be introduced which has a faster rate of growth and higher milk production potentials.

“Due to low investments and slow government policy interventions which would otherwise provide incentives to realise significant improvements in cattle productivity, we still have this challenge.

“The predominantly pastoral production systems and the low breeds that we have been known for their low productivity. It is therefore important for us to move towards superior breeds with a faster rate of growth and higher milk production potentials,” he added.

The Director-General of the Council, Professor Ibrahim Doko who was represented at the event by a Deputy Director at the Council Dr Mary Abiaeye said Nigeria’s national dairy output per annum is 700,00 metric tons, while national demand is 1.3million metric tons per annum leaving a gap of 600,00MT.

He said Nigeria is the largest importer of processed milk in West Africa, spending N1.73 billion per annum for milk importation.

“Nigeria’s domestic production does not meet daily capacity utilisation for the dairy companies and consumer demand while the shortfall is imported.

“Nigerian local dairy sector relies mostly on milk production from subsistence Fulani pastoralists, few viable commercial dairy farms and importation.

“The indigenous breeds of cattle have low genetic potentials (low growth rate and milk yield) possibly due to poor management system and stress of endless trekking in search of pasture.

“Average milk yield from Bunaji (white Fulani) breed is very low ranging from 1.5 to 2 litres a day, compared to Kenya (up to 30 litres a day) and Israel (up to 45-60 litres a day),” he noted.

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