RMRDC Establishes Milk Collection And Processing Centre For Adamawa Communities

The Milk Collection and Processing centre established by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in collaboration with Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola, was on Thursday inaugurated in Yola.

Speaking at the inauguration, the Director General of RMRDC, Dr Hussaini Ibrahim, said the project known as Community based Cattle Breeding/Upgrading and Processing Centre was intended to address the problem of low milk production by indigenous cattle

Ibrahim who was represented by the Deputy Director Textile, leather and Livestock division of RMRDC, Dr Grema Gana-Mustafa, said the centre meant for Mbamba/Gurin communities would also check wastage of abundant milk being produced during rainy season due to lack of processing and preservation equipments.

"In this collaboration, RMRDC provided all the equipment needed for the centre including 30KVA generating set while the university providedthe infrastructure for housing and installation of equipments in accordance with NAFDAC specification.

"The Mbamba/Gurin Fadama Communities provided the cattle for sourcing the raw materials (milk) after an initial artificial insemination/upgrading undertaken by Adamawa state Fadama 111 Coordinating office." Ibrahim said.

He noted that the timing of the inauguration was apt as it was coming at a time the present administration was revitalizing the agricultural sector in the face of dwindling oil revenue.

Ibrahim said that the country's dependence on imported milk which such centre hoped to address has not only affected the nation foreign exchange earnings but slowed down the development of indigenous diary industry.

"Thus, revitalizing the dairy industry will generate employment and empower our teeming population economically." Ibrahim said.

Speaking at the occasion, the chairman of Mbamba/Gurin Fadama Community, Alhaji Umaru Hamman, who said the community have over 300 to service the centre lauded RMRDC, MAUTECH and all those who contributed in making the centre a reality.

"In particular we are indebted to Fadama Development project, RMRDC, MAUTECH and our project consultants, Dr Dahiru Murtala Wali and Dr Abdurrahman Tukur." Hamman said.

He listed some of their challenges such as lack grants or soft loans to support milk production and processing and urged the state government to come to their aid.

In his remarks at the occasion, the Deputy Governor of Adamawa, Mr Martins Babale, lauded the development which he said was inline with the state government effort to boost agriculture as the main stay of its economy.

Babale said the state government was ready to collaborate with stakeholders to have more of such centres in the state for full utilization of the state livestock potentials.