Nigeria seeks to adopt Uganda’s experience to develop its dairy industry

Nigeria plans to expand cooperation with Uganda in cattle feeding, breeding genetics, veterinary services and milk processing. The initiative aims to improve dairy farming productivity and double domestic milk production to 1.4 mln tons annually by 2030. These prospects were discussed on October 15, 2026, during a meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Mukhtar Maiha, and Uganda’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Philip Odida.

One of the key areas of cooperation will be improving dairy cattle feeding systems and feed quality. The two countries are exploring opportunities to exchange technologies in compound feed and feed concentrate production, forage crop cultivation, genetic improvement of cattle herds and animal disease prevention. Improved feeding practices, combined with better veterinary services, are expected to help Nigerian farmers increase milk yields and improve dairy production efficiency.

Uganda’s experience is of considerable interest to Nigeria due to the rapid development of its dairy industry. According to Uganda’s Ministry of Agriculture, milk production increased from 2.7 bln liters in 2020 to 5.4 bln liters in 2024. Meanwhile, export revenues from dairy products rose from $102.6 mln in 2022 to $285.4 mln in 2024. The country’s main dairy exports include milk powder and long-life milk processed using ultra-high temperature (UHT) technology.

Nigeria aims to use this experience to modernize its domestic dairy sector, where milk production is currently estimated at approximately 700 thsd tons annually. To achieve its target of 1.4 mln tons by 2030, the country will need to ensure reliable supplies of high-quality feed, improve the genetic potential of its cattle and expand farmers’ access to modern technologies. Additional investment will also be required to develop milk collection, cooling, storage and processing infrastructure.

Cooperation between the two countries also involves private sector participation in developing the feed and dairy processing industries. In particular, opportunities are being explored to process surplus milk into milk powder and other value-added products for regional markets. According to participants in the talks, the practical results of the partnership will depend on the adoption of modern feeding systems, the availability of feed raw materials, improvements in veterinary services and investment in Nigeria’s livestock sector.

Tags: Nigeria, dairy products, Уганда, Milk, cattle