RMRDC, TO TEAM UP WITH USAID MARKETS, FCT AND OTHERS FOR  DAIRY PLANT IN ABUJA

Determined to promote the development and utilization of diary products in the federal Capital territory as a means of boosting rural enterprise for local resources development, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) plans to establish a mini-diary processing plant to cost about N50 Million naira in the FCT. The plant being  being jointly proposed with the United States Agency for Industrial Development (USAID) Markets is tailored towards the production of fresh milk, butter, fermented skimmed milk, among others that have gained increased demand in recent times.

The Director General of the Council, Engr. (Prof) Peter Onwualu disclosed this at the inauguration of a 1000 litre Milk collection and cooling centre (MCC) at paikon-Kore, Gwagwalada Area Council of the FCT, recently.

The DG said that the project would not only be tailored to meet the immediate needs of residents of the FCT, but that of the nation in general through large scale marketing strategy to be evolved by the council and its partners in the project.

Prof. Onwualu further stressed that feasibility study report jointly commissioned for the project with USAID Markets, had shown that more than 50,000 litres of milk is being produced daily by over 1million cattle, in about 35,000 hectares of available grazing reserves in the FCT.

He said the project is borne on the wings of the Federal Government’s Private-Public Sector Partnership initiative and would capitalize on infrastructures already on ground for take off. Facilities already on ground include a1000 litre collection and cooling centre, a 12KVA generating set and accessories donated by USAID Land O’ Lakes, among others.