The Management of Arla Foods, which makers of Dano Milk and Lupark Butter says it is in talks with specific Nigerian farmers to share knowledge and insights on how they can improve their production.
Steen Hadsbjerg, Head of Arla’s regional office in sub-Sahara Africa said this at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding during the visit of a Danish business delegation to Nigeria facilitated by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to Hadsbjerg, the move by Arla will contribute to the sustainable development and growth of Nigeria’s dairy sector.
“In order for Arla to have a long-term successful business in Nigeria, it is important that we engage in the development of the local dairy sector. The Nigerian government looks very positive on the companies that commit to taking a local responsibility and help create a better balance between imported and locally produced dairy products in the market,” said Hadsbjerg.
He said Arla is committed to investing in local dairy production in Nigeria and to sharing knowledge about agricultural practices and other aspects of dairy production that will improve the local raw milk production and quality in Nigeria. The purpose is to contribute to a sustainable dairy sector development and growth in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is one of the biggest markets for dairy products in Africa. For Arla to succeed in Africa, we must succeed in Nigeria. The population is growing at a rate of two to three percent per year, and people are young, ambitious and increasingly well educated.”
The Memorandum of Understanding is a natural consequence of Arla’s engagement in “The Milky Way to Development”, an alliance led by CARE to develop a socially, environmentally and economically sustainable market for milk in West Africa.
“More and more African consumers demand types of dairy products that cannot always be produced locally in adequate volumes. We offer good nutrition through our powdered milk products, and simultaneously we want to ensure that our business does not have any negative effects on local farmers,” says executive vice president Finn Hansen, who is head of Arla’s international business group.
