Experts of the Dairy Science Park showed their concerns on capping the price of meat and milk and much lower rates than the production price. Such a situation discourages the producers of prime quality meat and milk to compete in the market and they are punished for higher prices, while those selling adulterated and low quality products on lower rates are promoted. This damages the industrial growth and deprives consumers of the access to quality foods.
The meeting was participated by Chief Patron DSP Prof M S Qureshi, Executive members DSP Mr Hafeez ur Rahman, Engr Irfan Qureshi, Mr Kamran Khan, Livestock farmers Mr Ishaq Khan, Mr Mukhtiar Ali, Mr Waliullah, Mr Aliullah, and Veterinary practitioner Dr Muhammadullah. ILRI was represented by Dr Nadar Khan and the support being extended for introduction of improved maize and fodder varieties and improving farming system at Peshawar and Swat were reviewed and appreciated.
Prof Qureshi briefed the house on developments made so far, since 1998, with preparation of Chief Minister’s Livestock Development Plan. The mission has shown significant growth during the period and provincial government is considering regulatory, financial and development support for the medium sized farmers.
A slaughter house is being established at Regi Town through joint efforts of DSP and Peshawar Development Authority. The participants thanked the provincial senior minister Local Government Mr Inayatullah Khan for sponsoring these activities and his advice to establish Animal Science Park through an act of the provincial assembly.
Prof Qureshi shared the Society Profile of DSP. Mr Akram Khan Durrani, Ex Chief Minister KP/Federal Minister for Housing has appreciated the concept of the University of Veterinary Innovations and Commercialization as a novelty in the sense that it will work on the local livestock resources and human resource development under an Endowment Fund to develop and replicate self-employment models and establish a network of meat production farms of different livestock, poultry and other species. Reducing production cost through scientific research, introducing quality control models and certification of farms, processing factories and marketing facilities would hopefully prepare the region for Halal meat export.
The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA have been poor but they are honest and hard working and possess natural resources, especially livestock and poultry. The region may get a stable peace through promotion of self-employment and hygienic food production as envisioned under Dairy Science Park in partnership with the local and international agencies, especially Sustainable Development Agenda of the United Nations.
The present Government has been working hard to extend development support to all regions, especially for rehabilitation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA and may continue to support the initiatives launched by Dairy Science Park with the cooperation of national and international agencies, in larger interest of the people.
The participants recommended farmers visit to model farms in Punjab. It was recommended that farmers’ clusters may be provided appropriate service packages in collaboration with development and business organizations. Jan Arcade has been provided relief package in pricing the district administration through quality control certification by DSP. It was recommended that the farmers producing quality animals must be extended this price relief, after registration with DSP. Animals source and the quality of farm inputs will be certified to get consumers confidence. Similar system will be introduced at milk production and marketing network.
The outgoing DVM students would be involved in collecting data on prevailing practices and the relevant constraints. The University Veterinary Clinic would arrange field days to the accessible farmers and ILRI would help in analyzing the status of farming system and development of intervention strategies. Service providers and those involved in farm inputs, would be approached to introduce innovations in the farming system. Availability of clean water through solar water pumps, was identified an essential requirement.
Price difference among regions; opportunities, development scope and new investment guidelines would be provided by the DSP experts. Arrangements would be made for training of farmers in improved techniques. Survey studies would be conducted for documenting issues in dairy production at Peshawar, Charsadda and Nowsherea. At Swat small ruminants production would be investigated and models improved herds would be demonstrated. A silage plant would be established at Peshawar as a common facility under DSP, for the local farmers.