The Damau Household Milk Farm is a model that aims to restructure the dairy value chain in Kaduna state by relocating 1,000 herders and their families, giving them access to social amenities, and modernizing the transhumance cattle-rearing method. How was clarified in this interview by Managing Director of Kaduna Market Development and Management Company, TAMAR NANDUL.
In January 2020, the Damau Household Milk Farm officially broke ground. Where is the project now, two years later?
In order to provide some context, I will give a quick summary of the project. The Damau Household Milk Farm project intends to create a farm settlement that can house up to 1,000 herders who will primarily participate in milk production and other agricultural pursuits.
The project area is situated in the Kubau Local Government Area’s Damau Forest Reserve. The settlement will be divided into three districts, each measuring roughly 1,800 hectres. Each district is further divided into eight to nine clusters, each with 40 farmers and measuring 200 hectres. Consequently, it is anticipated that each district can house between 320 and 360 farms. Additionally, 600 hectares of irrigated land are available for the dry season’s feed production.
A home, a cattle shed, and a calf pen are all included on the approximately five hectares of farmland that each farmer and his or her household are entitled to. Out of the five hectres of land, 0.5 hectres will be used for homes and gardens, while the remaining 4.5 hectres will be used to produce feed. Each household will also have access to 0.6 hectres of irrigated land. The land at each farm has the potential to sustain eight crossbred cows, including breeding stock, and each farm will begin with three crossbred cows for milk production and breeding. In addition to skill development centers, primary health centers, school buildings, veterinary clinics, market blocks and stalls, toilet blocks, and electricity supplies, the farm will also contain these amenities.
Over the past year and half, we have focused on the provision and construction of infrastructure for the farm with emphasis on site access and mobility; that is, the construction of approximately 130 kilometres of 10 metres wide roads, 37 culverts, two bridges which are nearing completion.
We started the project’s pilot phase, or Phase 1, in March of this year. 400 of the 1000 cow sheds and calf pens, two skill development centers, two primary health centers, two school buildings, two veterinary clinics, two market buildings/stalls, six restroom buildings, and four security posts have already begun construction. Additionally, we are developing 240 hectres of the 600 hectres of irrigated land and 800 hectres out of 4,500 hectres, at a rate of two hectres per household, for individual pasture and irrigation systems, building the farm’s perimeter fence, and providing water, power, and reticulation. Out of 3,000 cattle, we are acquiring 1,200 crossbred animals.
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