Abuja: The Commercial Dairy Ranchers Association of Nigeria (CODARAN) has called for increased support and empowerment for women dairy farmers across the country. The association emphasized the vital role of empowering women in the dairy value chain, highlighting its importance in boosting local milk production, improving nutrition, creating jobs, and reducing dependence on imported dairy products.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the National President of CODARAN, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, made this call during a conference and exhibition held in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 World Milk Day. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) established World Milk Day in 2001, and the 2026 edition carries the theme: ‘Celebrating Women Dairy Farmers: Promoting Fresh Milk Consumption for a Healthy Nation.’
Abubakar stressed that supporting women dairy farmers is crucial for enhancing rural economic development, noting that women play a central role in Nigeria’s dairy economy. He highlighted their significant contributions to milk production, household nutrition, family income, and the sustainability of local dairy systems in rural communities. However, he pointed out that many women continue to face challenges, including limited access to finance, markets, infrastructure, training, and business opportunities.
He urged for the creation of platforms and interventions that recognize, support, and empower women dairy farmers, enabling them to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development. Abubakar described World Milk Day as an important occasion for recognizing the contribution of milk and the dairy sector to nutrition, livelihoods, employment generation, and economic development. The event also serves to raise awareness and encourage Nigerians to include fresh milk as a regular part of their diet.
Abubakar noted the nutritional benefits of fresh milk, which is rich in high-quality protein and contains all essential amino acids required for growth, development, and overall wellbeing. He raised concerns about the confusion caused by low-cost milk substitutes and creamers marketed as milk products, which often lack the full nutritional benefits of genuine milk consumption. He urged Nigerians to make informed choices when purchasing milk and dairy products, advising consumers to carefully examine product labels and choose fresh milk and dairy products made from fresh milk to maximize health and nutritional benefits.
The CODARAN president also called on dairy companies to increase investments in backward integration, describing it as an effective strategy for ensuring a stable and sustainable supply of raw milk nationwide. He emphasized that backward integration should ultimately lead to import substitution, warning that any programme failing to achieve this would be ineffective.
Abubakar described the 2026 theme as timely, underscoring the need to support women dairy farmers while promoting fresh milk consumption as a pathway to improved national nutrition. He reaffirmed CODARAN’s commitment to advancing Nigeria’s dairy sector through advocacy, stakeholder collaboration, business development, investment promotion, and support for local milk production and aggregation systems.
He added that CODARAN’s milk collection centres in Niger and Jigawa states currently provide a ready market for about 500 women dairy farmers, who receive prompt payment for milk supplied. This initiative has helped boost household incomes and improve livelihoods in the benefiting communities.