Building community inclusion in Nigeria’s Dairy Value Chain

Getting milk from farm to table in Nigeria relies on community partnerships and initiatives, crucial for agricultural productivity. Dairy farming communities use cooperatives to boost productivity, equity, and sustainable development. The International Day of Cooperatives highlighted the role of cooperatives in addressing societal issues. In Nigeria, the women-led Luumo Kosam cooperative empowers women and promotes gender equality in the dairy sector, supported by Arla Food’s Milky Way Partnership. Women, who make up nearly half of the agricultural labor force in sub-Saharan Africa, often lack ownership in the commercial dairy value chain. The Luumo Kosam cooperative addresses this by promoting job creation, financial inclusion, and self-sufficiency among women in Chukun, Kaduna. The Milky Way Partnership has helped 31 women gain formal roles in cooperatives, enhancing governance and financial independence. It also provided training to improve milk quality and animal welfare, benefiting over 5,000 women. By emphasizing female representation and community inclusion, cooperatives like Luumo Kosam contribute to sustainable development. Initiatives like the Milky Way Partnership are essential for boosting local milk production and empowering women, supporting the sector’s future and stakeholders.
Source: DailyPost

Our Review
Community partnerships and initiatives are crucial for Nigeria’s agri-food value chain, especially in dairy farming. The Luumo Kosam cooperative exemplifies how cooperatives can drive productivity, equity, and sustainable development. By empowering women, who constitute nearly half of sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural labor force but often lack ownership, such initiatives promote gender equality and financial independence. Arla Food’s Milky Way Partnership, supporting the Luumo Kosam cooperative, highlights the importance of formal roles for women in the dairy sector, offering training to enhance milk quality and animal welfare. This cooperative model not only creates jobs but also ensures financial inclusion and self-sufficiency for women in Chukun, Kaduna, ultimately benefiting over 5,000 women. By fostering female representation and community inclusion, cooperatives like Luumo Kosam contribute significantly to sustainable agricultural development and the overall growth of the agri-food sector in Nigeria.