The Kaduna State Government has pledged €10 million to establish the Arla‑Dano Farm in Damau, Kubau Local Government Area as part of an ambitious programme to modernise livestock production and draw private investment.
At an open-day event, Governor Uba Sani (represented by Secretary to the State Government AbdulKadir Muazu) outlined the project’s goal, which is to produce 4–5 million kilograms of milk annually once fully operational.
The farm is designed not just for production, but also to fill infrastructure gaps and create sustainable jobs. Governor Sani said: “These initiatives will empower our farmers, increase income, create jobs for our youth, and provide nutritious dairy products for our people.”
In support of this vision, the state has put in place sister institutions such as the Kaduna State Livestock Regulatory Authority (KADLRA), the Kaduna State Livestock Transformation Company and the Kaduna Ranch‑Development Company. “In the livestock subsector, Kaduna State has established … to work in synergy,” the governor stated.
Additional initiatives include the inauguration of a Nigeria Dairy Centre of Excellence, the Sedentarization and Climate Change Resilience in Nigeria (SCREEN) Project and a newly-commissioned yoghurt factory, which are aimed at equipping smallholder farmers with modern technology to enhance milk quality and productivity.
The federal government’s local-content and backward-integration policy is also playing a role. As the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development head, Alhaji Idi Maiha, noted: Arla Farm is a product of those policy frameworks.
From an economic perspective, by injecting €10 million into the dairy value chain, Kaduna is positioning itself to reduce milk imports, boost domestic value-added output, and generate employment, potentially raising farm incomes and stimulating ancillary services in the region.
In short, this investment signals a strategic shift, which is transforming Kaduna into a national dairy hub, improving livelihoods in rural areas, and creating a more robust agricultural sector capable of driving broader economic growth.
