Cameroon - Dairy sector: 164 dairy cows distributed to farmers

The government's initiative aims to boost local dairy production. The country has a deficit of 120,000 tonnes per year.

Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr. Taiga, is presiding over the solemn distribution ceremony of 164 high-performance dairy cows of the Montbeliarde breed to breeders in several regions of the country in the town of Garoua, Northern Region, on 23 February 2021. It will be in the presence of Abdoulaye Seck, Director of Operations of the World Bank in Cameroon.

These dairy cows were purchased by the government through the Livestock Development Project (PRODEL), financed by the World Bank. According to PRODEL's explanations, the Cameroonian government had opted for the Montbeliarde breed because "it has theadvantage of being more easily adapted to harsh climatic conditions. The abundance of water and grass guarantees a production of 20 litres of milk per cow per day. Technological implications in milking make it possible to intensify milk production".

The cows were welcomed by Dr Taiga on 3 October 2020 at Garoua International Airport from Besançon in France. The aim of this project is to increase local milk production. While local production has increased by 7% since 2014, to reach nearly 275,000 tons in 2019, the country has a deficit of around 120,000 tons per year.

According to official statistics, the import of milk and its by-products costs the public treasury about CFAF 20 billion per year. For PRODEL, the Montbeliarde breed of dairy cows, whose production is estimated at 20 litres of milk per day, will make it possible to solve this deficit.

Source: www.cameroon-info.net