By Adedapo Adesanya
As part of plans to improve on local milk production, Promasidor Nigeria Limited has signed a partnership agreement with the Ekiti State Government to drive its backward integration initiative through the state-owned Ikun Dairy Farm.
The agreement which was signed by Ekiti State Governor, Mr Kayode Fayemi, and the Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr Anders Einarsson, in Abuja, will enable Promasidor utilise the facilities at Ikun Dairy Farm to improve local sourcing of materials for production of its dairy products, which include Cowbell and Loya among others.
Speaking on the partnership, Mr Fayemi said that Ekiti State was delighted to collaborate with a major player in the fast-moving consumer goods sector reiterating that his administration in the state is committed to the wellbeing of consumers through its array of quality products.
The Governor assured that the partnership would enhance the backward integration initiative of Promasidor in compliance with the Federal Government’s directives that companies should seek local source of raw materials for their products.
He noted that Ikun Dairy Farm has a sufficient potential to serve as a source of milk supply to produce evaporated milk and other nutritional products, as well as create more employment opportunities for the people.
The Managing Director of Promasidor, Mr Anders Einarsson, remarked on the progress made on backward integration and stated that the Ikun Dairy Farm would significantly provide opportunities to enhance local milk production and ease less dependence on foreign raw materials.
Mr Einarsson was confident that Promasidor’s backward integration initiative would give the company a competitive edge over others in the dairy market with the potentials of the farm.
Promasidor Nigeria, which introduced the packaged ready-to-go cereal Sun Vita last year, also produces other products under the brands, Cowbell Milk, Loya Milk, Cowbell Chocolate, Miksi, Top Tea, Onga food seasoning, Sunvita Cereals among others.
Since it launched its operations in Nigeria in 1993 the company has grown into becoming a major player in the country’s dairy, beverage and seasoning market.
Established in the early 1980s as an integrated agro-allied farm to boost the economy of the State, Ikun Dairy Farm covers 1,000 hectares of land located in Moba Local Government Area.
Dipo Olowookere