Kano State boosts milk production, sales with new collection centres

NIGERIA – The Kano State Agro-Pastoral Development Project (KSAPDP) has established five milk collection centres at Falgore cattle market to promote the sale of clean and hygienic milk.

This was disclosed by KSAPDP official Ibrahim Wada during a briefing at one of the centres in Falgore, Doguwa Local Government Area.

He explained that the initiative, funded by the Islamic Development Bank with support from the state government, aims to supply clean milk to yogurt producers in Kano, Kaduna, and neighboring states.

According to Wada, the five centres are part of a larger project to establish 100 milk collection centres across milk-producing communities in Kano.

Each facility is equipped with a 550-litre milk storage tank, solar-powered borehole, toilet, solar lighting, and an office.

Upon completion, the centres will be managed independently to enhance business operations and reduce milk waste.

The initiative is also expected to improve herders’ revenue by providing reliable facilities for milk collection and storage.

Wada revealed that the state government, through KSAPDP, is also developing 50 hectares of commercial fodder plots across 20 locations, equipped with slashers, baling machines, and storage facilities.

Additionally, 500-metric-tonne grain storage facilities are being constructed in 22 locations to assist farmers in aggregating rice, maize, and other grains.

Infrastructure upgrades have also been implemented in five major cattle markets to boost income for marketers and the government.

Mansir Madawaki, Chairman of the Cattle Market Union, praised Governor Abba Yusuf’s administration for constructing a veterinary clinic and toilet facilities in the Falgore market, which he said had enhanced security and improved market conditions.

Meanwhile, the Cow Milk Marketers Association at Wanbai Market has reported a significant rise in daily sales, now reaching N200 million.

The association’s chairman, Alhaji Muhammad Alaramma, attributed this to the government and Islamic Development Bank’s efforts to rehabilitate the market.

He noted that over 100 generating sets and 200 blending machines had been distributed to members, significantly boosting their business operations.

Alaramma emphasized the importance of fully operational milk collection centres, stating that most of the 40 centres across the state are complete but not yet commissioned.

He urged the government to address this delay, highlighting that operational centres would reduce milk wastage and enable the transportation of products to international markets.

He also called for government support in providing cooling vans for milk transportation, noting that over two million litres of cow milk are currently being transported from the North.

Alaramma expressed optimism that the interventions would further benefit the association’s 20,000 members, enhance storage capabilities, and facilitate growth in both local and international markets.