The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has installed a new drilling project aimed at transforming the lives of Luumo Kosam Dairy Cooperative in Chukun, Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria.
The project was initiated by the Value Chain Foundation with funding from the Swiss Cooperation (DDC) and ECOWAS. It is part of the Regional Programme for Support to Farmer Organisations (PRAOP).
The project is expected to create employment opportunities for youth through improved dairy and fodder production. It will establish family dairy farms and assist in the management of cows and calves to increase the availability and accessibility of feed and forage. It will also facilitate knowledge-sharing among dairy farmers and stakeholders to enhance local milk production.
The scheme is expected to create 22 direct jobs, produce 400 tons of fodder, and train 600 youths from 100 households and 10 young individuals. It will link 100 households to inputs and services such as forage, feed, veterinary services, medicines, and artificial insemination. It also intends to connect 100 households to governments, development partners, milk supply, with an additional production of 300 litres of raw milk per day and an increase in beneficiaries’ income by about 200 percent.
The drilling will offer reliable and essential water source for cooperative members and livestock watering, which will help improve their main source of livelihood. The handover of the drilling to the Luumo Kosam Dairy Cooperative in Chukun, Kaduna is a significant step in promoting youth employability and improving the living conditions of cooperative members