By David Adeoye
Oyo State Government says it will soon begin livestock breeding and dairy production
in partnership with a dairy company, Friesland Campina WAMCO.
Dr Debo Akande, the Director-General, Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA), made this known during a visit by the dairy company’s leadership team led by Mr Ben Langnat, Managing Director, to Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub.
According to Akande, the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub is a pilot project.
“It will be replicated across the state and one which is already generating revenue into the government’s coffers,” he said.
Receiving the team, Akande reiterated that the partnership between the state government and FrieslandCampina WAMCO Plc., would be a profitable one, which would make the state the hub of dairy production in Nigeria.
Respondo, Langnat said that FrieslandCampina WAMCO, makers of Peak Milk, have been in the business of producing dairy products for about 150 years.
He said the company moved into Fasola Agribusiness Hub to commence livestock breeding and dairy production.
Langnat explained that one of the reasons why FrieslandCampina chose to partner with the state government at the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub was because of the proximity of Fasola to their milk production factory in Lagos.
He also noted that the Hub presents FrieslandCampina with the perfect opportunity to scale up, providing a platform to embark on livestock breeding on a large scale.
Langnat lauded Gov. Seyi Makinde for turning a previously moribund farm estate into a soon-to-be highly profitable venture for all parties involved.
The managing director enjoined the state government to complete the Oyo-Iseyin Road and improve on the security of the area.
He, also thanked Makinde for creating an enabling environment and promoting the ease of doing business in the state.
Langnat said that the land at Fasola was very good for planting of pasture for the cattle.
He pointed out that the presence of Dam and the hospitable people of the state were other reasons why FrieslandCampina WAMCO chose Oyo to expand its business.
Langnat said that FrieslandCampina WAMCO had acquired 300 hectares at Fasola and had already built sheds to store feeds, boreholes for access to water and solar panels for the generation of power.
He added that the company was in the process of building a silage bank, which would convert maize to silage for the cows.
“All these things, among others, have to be in place before the cows are brought into the hub in 2023.
“FrieslandCampina began working with farmers in the state in 2011 and have grown their farmer-partnership to a whopping 12,000.
“The partnership with the state is the next big step in line with their plans to scale up and with the growing need to source for raw materials needed for production locally,” he said.(NAN)
