Nigeria has launched a trilateral partnership with Brazil and the United Kingdom aimed at modernising its struggling cattle sector through digital technologies and data-driven farming systems, the livestock ministry said on Sunday.
The programme, dubbed the “Trilateral Initiative for Climate-Smart Cattle Systems,” will deploy digital monitoring tools, precision animal health systems and data platforms to improve productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a statement from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development.
Under the arrangement, Brazil will contribute expertise in large-scale cattle production, while the United Kingdom will provide support in data analytics and artificial intelligence. Nigerian authorities say the initiative is designed to transform traditional livestock practices by integrating smart collars, sensor technologies, environmental monitoring systems and digital livestock registries.
“Digital monitoring devices attached to animals, remote video surveillance systems, and environmental sensors can generate detailed real-time data beyond what is possible through traditional observation,” the ministry said. Integrating this data into shared platforms and applying machine learning tools could enhance feeding systems, strengthen resilience and increase profitability, it added.
The initiative forms part of Abuja’s broader plan to revitalise the dairy industry and reduce dependence on milk imports. In June last year, the government announced a target to double national milk output to 1.4 million tonnes by 2030, a move officials say will strengthen food security and create rural jobs.
More Read
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has one of the continent’s largest cattle populations but continues to face low productivity, weak value chains and persistent farmer-herder conflicts. Limited infrastructure, outdated breeding methods and inadequate veterinary services have constrained output for decades.
Officials believe lessons from Brazil could prove valuable, citing similarities in climate and ecosystems between parts of Brazil and Nigeria. Brazil is one of the world’s largest livestock and dairy producers, with average milk output of 36.6 million tonnes annually between 2021 and 2023, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The United Kingdom, meanwhile, is expected to contribute expertise in agricultural data systems and artificial intelligence applications. The UK was Europe’s largest dairy producer outside the European Union over the same period, with average annual output of 15.5 million tonnes, FAO data show.
More Read
While specific implementation timelines have not been disclosed, Nigerian authorities say the partnership represents a shift toward climate-smart agriculture, combining productivity gains with environmental sustainability.
Analysts say modernising the cattle sector will be critical if Nigeria is to meet its dairy targets and curb rising import bills. The country imports significant quantities of milk and dairy products each year to meet domestic demand, placing pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
The success of the initiative, they add, will depend on effective coordination among partners, investment in rural infrastructure and the ability to scale digital solutions across pastoral and smallholder farming systems.
Nigeria has one of Africa’s largest livestock populations, with an estimated 20 million cattle largely managed under extensive pastoral systems. Despite the size of the herd, productivity remains low due to limited access to improved breeds, inadequate veterinary services, weak cold-chain infrastructure and poor feed management.
Milk production has historically fallen short of domestic demand, forcing Nigeria to rely heavily on imports of powdered milk and other dairy products. Industry estimates suggest that local output meets only a fraction of national consumption needs, contributing to pressure on foreign exchange reserves and widening the agricultural trade deficit.
Successive governments have sought to revitalise the livestock and dairy industries as part of broader food security and diversification strategies. Efforts have included promoting ranching, supporting private-sector dairy investments and introducing breed improvement programmes. However, progress has been slowed by infrastructure gaps, land-use disputes and recurring clashes between herders and farming communities.
More Read
The creation of the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development marked a renewed policy focus on modernising animal agriculture. Authorities have emphasised the need to shift from traditional pastoral systems to more structured, technology-driven models capable of improving yields, reducing environmental degradation and mitigating farmer-herder conflicts.
Digital agriculture has emerged as a key component of reform plans. Precision livestock farming using smart collars, sensor systems, satellite tracking and data analytics is increasingly viewed as a way to monitor animal health, optimise feeding and improve breeding outcomes. Policymakers argue that such technologies can also help track disease outbreaks and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from livestock production.
Nigeria’s partnership with Brazil reflects an effort to draw lessons from one of the world’s most successful cattle industries. Brazil transformed its livestock sector over several decades through research, improved pasture management and large-scale adoption of technology, becoming a leading global producer of beef and dairy.
The involvement of the United Kingdom underscores the growing role of data analytics and artificial intelligence in agriculture. Advanced data systems are increasingly used worldwide to enhance productivity, strengthen traceability and support climate-smart farming practices.
Nigeria’s target to double milk output to 1.4 million tonnes by 2030 forms part of a broader economic strategy aimed at reducing import dependence, creating rural employment and strengthening agricultural value chains. Analysts note that achieving this goal will require sustained investment, regulatory reforms and effective collaboration with international partners.
