Fresh milk: CBN, NAPRI- Arla seal deal on Anchor Borrower

RT-Lt- Food Farm News Publisher, Mr. Ayeni, Oladehinde, Executive Director, Folder Green Tech. Mr. Edwards Mba, ARLA repr. Mr. Poul Erikstrup, CBN, SA to Gov, Mr. Olatunde Akande, CBN DD, Finance Development, Alhaji Sani Mohammed, NAPRI ED, Prof. Lakpini, ARLA Vice President, Mr. Steen Hadsbjerg and the rest CBN officials

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has asked for expression of interest from the team of researchers and business partners led by National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) Executive Director, Prof. C.A.M Lakpini to the apex bank on a mission to seek financial support for cattle farmers towards local fresh milk and meat productivity without moving these animals about.

Meeting cross section

Speaking to the NAPRI team, the Deputy Director, Finance development department of the CBN, Alhaji Sani Mohammed said both NAPRI and ARLA Global Dairy Products Limited should put heads together to give a letter of expression of interest as service provider in the anchor programme added that the farmers must be well organized into a business model through a commercial bank who he said would also write an undertaking on its readiness to finance the farmers.

ARLA repr. Mr. Poul Erikstrup making presentation on quality fresh milk offtake

Both NAPRI and ARLA Global Dairy Products Limited representatives have both agreed to present the letter by next week to finally seal the anchor borrower business deal with the CBN.

NAPRI ED, Prof. Lakpini making presentation

Among the ARLA representatives are the Vice President of the organization, Mr. Steen Hadsbjerg and Poul Jacob Erikstrup who both spoke extensive on the partnership it has formed with NAPRI in the development of animal productivity towards collection of quality fresh milk in some major centers in the country with readiness to support the farmers in the areas of infrastructural development, but saying the organization would not be able to give individual farmer any loan.

NAPRI ED, Prof. Lakpini in a chat with the SA to the CBN Gov, Mr. Olatunde Akande

The CBN also confirmed in the office of the Special Adviser to the Governor of CBN, Mr. Olatunde Akande that the apex bank would be ready to start with NAPRI-ARLA partnership provider in the anchor borrower of the cattle productivity in a modern ways of fresh milk production without roaming about as a pilot project in Kaduna as is expected to spread to Niger and Plateau states.