Livestock is the largest sub-sector of agriculture, contributing about 53 percent of the agriculture value added and sharing 12 percent of national exports amounting to 1538 billion rupees.
Indigenous goats and poultry are very valuable parts of our farm animals as the goats are the fastest growing species of farm livestock and chickens are important supplier of eggs and meat in the rural areas and contribute significantly to the egg (1/3rd) and meat availability (1/4th) in the country.
This was stated by Regional Director International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Professor Dr MNM Ibrahim, while addressing the participants of inaugural session of an international training workshop on "Development and application of decision support tools to conserve and sustainable use genetic diversity in indigenous livestock and wild relatives" as keynote speaker here in New Senate Hall.
Dr MNM Ibrahim emphasised to make necessary arrangements for conservation and sustainable use of indigenous farm animal genetics resources and their wild relatives in Pakistan and other developing countries. He was of the view that long term conservation of indigenous livestock will only be possible if the net result improve in human livelihood. He told that in order to develop and make available effective tools to support decision making for the conservation and sustainable use of indigenous farm animal genetics resources and their wild relatives, a project was launched in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.
He said that he was optimistic to see 50 participants were getting training on various aspects of socio-economic surveys, and methods of house hold and market agent surveys and participatory rural appraisals will be taught. Chief Guest Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad said that this project will provide a platform to researchers and policy makers to formulate such policies by keeping in view the data which will be generated through the survey.
He said that poultry, sheep and goats are the major animals of rural areas with enormous income generation potential. He told that UAF is holding a Fancy Bird Show during mega programme of the golden jubilee year. Earlier focal person of the project in Pakistan Professor Muhammad Sajjad Khan, while presenting the objectives of the project revealed that representatives having specialisation in animal husbandry and economics from 45 organisations were participating in the workshop.