Punjab government launches 'Skilled Rural Youth Force' programme

The PML-N led Punjab government on Monday has launched a new programme titled 'Skilled Rural Youth Force' under which extension services comprising artificial insemination, wanda and silage making are being extended to the farmers. This was stated by PML-N senior leader senator Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa while addressing the inaugural session of one-day seminar on "Road Map for Development of Dairy sector of Pakistan" held here at University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS).
The seminar was conducted by University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) faculty of veterinary science and sponsored by dairy industries. Sirdar Khosa maintained that livestock sector needs to be developed through scientific research. He urged the UVAS's veterinarians to play their role in addressing the livestock farmers' problems.
L&DDD additional secretary Khalid Awais Ranjha, Livestock Dairy Development Board CEO Major General (r) Muhammad Ali Khan, Nestle managing director Azhar Ali Syed, Maxim International managing director Faisal Farid, Solve Agri Dairy Institute CEO Haroon M. K Lodhi, dairy rural development foundation project manager Jack Moser attended the seminar.
Senator Sirdar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa said that Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz gave prime importance to the livestock sector. In this regard, he had taken various steps aimed at strengthening the livestock sector. He said that Southern Punjab had abundant the wealth of animals but unfortunately the farmers are not aware of the modern model dairy farming. He said the UVAS and L&DDD should launch concerted efforts to cure sick animals and play pro-active role to enhance milk meat potential across province.
Minister for Agriculture Punjab Ahmad Ali Aulakh said that the livestock accounts for approximately 55.1 percent of the agriculture value added and 11.5 percent to GDP during 2010-11. Livestock sector's prospective role towards rural economic development may well be recognized from the fact that 35-40 million rural populations are dependent on livestock.
According to Food & Agriculture Organisation of United Nations, Pakistan is ranked 4th milk producer of the world. Ahmad Ali Aulakh said that the emergence of livestock sector was an indicator of its great economic potential and the reality that small farmers and landless peasants constituting 20-per cent of the land resources were responsible for producing 80-per cent of milk and meat in the country.
He said that the department and academia should evolve a comprehensive strategy to get results oriented goals Earlier, UVAS vice-chancellor Professor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said that the collaboration between UVAS and private sector would be beneficial for both to grow in a research-based entrepreneurial environment.