SDGs Good Practices
The Government of KP is managing the Livestock Value Chain under the traditional concept of healthcare at civil Veterinary hospitals. Hence the production, marketing and quality aspects got ignored. The stakeholders face regulatory and financial issues in sustaining their operations as they are forced by regulatory bodies to keep their prices low, even below production cost. Hence next generation of farmers, butchers, processors and potential young entrepreneurs feel reluctant in adopting such practices for getting decent employment. Public service organizations remain disconnected from academia, industries; hence the policy neglect concerns of such groups. The marketing network is not supporting the emerging entrepreneurs. Dairy Science Park (NGO)was initiated as #SDGAction9671 to address the issues.
Objectives
- To attract the stakeholders for active participation in the development process.
- To spread awareness among the masses and sensitize them to understand the issues of food security and quality.
- To support utilization of livestock resources for self-employment of the youth.
- To network the farmers, investors, experts and public sector organizations for joining hands in covering the province into an export base for Halal Meat, milk and eggs in an environment friendly, cost effective way, fulfilling demands of local markets.
- To utilize the academic, research and development resources of the provincial government and the Dairy Science Park for improvement in livestock farming through quality control standards and certification for biosafety.
- To provide marketing linkage to the producers, input suppliers and service providers in livestock and allied sectors.
Contributions
Academia-industry-govt linkages was improved, ensuring food security. Postgraduate research was linked with industrial issues. Biennial conference series was launched. Trained 104 persons-times in biorisk management (BRM) sponsored by SN Labs USA. WUM participated in BRM workshops, teachers were motivated to work on quality control and entrepreneurship dev; solar energy was utilized for energizing farming and processing facilities. Entrepreneurship models were developed in quails/rabbits farming and meat technology. Emerging entrepreneurs were supported in survival and growth. Public/private sectors were interlinked through a Good Governance Model under FAO Consultancy.
Implementation
International Conference and Industrial Exhibition on DSP was held at Univ Agric Peshawar on Nov 21-23, 2011. Public and Private Sector Organizations were interlinked for demonstration of Good Governance through Triple Helix Model. The Conference Series continued during 2011, 2013 and 2015 at Peshawar, during 2017 at Konya, Turkey and during 2019 at Quetta, Pakistan. President KPCCI approved the Standing Committee on Livestock for integrating various stakeholders. Senior Minister GoKP inaugurated Livestock Business Facilitation Desk at KPCCI. Special Assistant to Chief Minister (SACM) on Law supported legislative reforms to protect interest of the stakeholders during the process of industrialization while SACM (Livestock) advised for development of a policy to address the current challenges.
The DSP head office/Display Center was established at the City Towers, University Road Peshawar and the Park was registered under Societies’ Registration Act XXI of 1860. MoU’s were signed with the KIVS Peshawar and CEBG, Pakistan Army for HRD and utilizing the semen and embryos from elite dairy and beef ruminants at the medium sized farms in the province and FATA.
A collaboration on “Biorisk Management” was completed with the Sandia National Laboratories USA. A total of 105 persons-times were trained in various countries. An integrated curriculum package was developed on Biorisk Management to be integrated into DVM degree program in Pakistani Universities. The Senior Minister for Local Government allocated Rs.200 million for establishing a model slaughter house. DSP was declared as a platform to bridge up the policy gap between private and public sectors. Chief Minister KP approved DSP Task Force for boosting commercialization process in the livestock sector.
FAO-KP Livestock Action Plan 2019 was prepared as National Consultant for demonstration of Good Governance Model in the provincial livestock sector; however, it was turned down by the powerful stakeholders, having conflict of interests with the livestock farmers, products processors and emerging entrepreneurs.
Results/Outputs/Impacts
International Conference and Industrial Exhibitions were held during November 2011, 2013 and 2015 at UA Peshawar, during 2017 at Konya, Turkey and during 2019 at Quetta, Pakistan. Each conference was attended by 500+ delegates and companies. Four Pakistani universities launched collaboration with Turkish universities.
Consultative workshops were held on Biorisk Management with technical and financial support of the United States Department of State’s Biosecurity Engagement Program and Sandia National Laboratories, USA. Eight consultative workshops were held at Netherlands, Dubai, Bangkok, Phuket, Colombo, Konya, Amman and Dubai, training 105 persons-times. A BRM Package was developed for integration into DVM curriculum at Pakistani Universities under the supervision of PVMC.
Private Sector was supported through linkage with public sector organizations. University Feed Mill was functionalized under PPP and silage was introduced at DSP VCMC. Postgraduate Industrial Research was introduced at the Universities for developing entrepreneurship models. Quality Control Certification was introduced at Meat Shops.
Beneficiaries
Local and foreign universities, sheep/goats/buffaloes/fodders farmers’/butchers/dairy/meat processors associations, postgraduate students, young researchers, professors, dairy/meat equipment manufacturers, investors, public sector organizations, young generation of farmers and processors’ families
Enabling factors and constraints
Policy makers were motivated to recognize issues of private sector; farmers/processors were motivated to get desired inputs from the public service organizations (PSOs); students were motivated to join private sector as careers; manufacturers/ suppliers launched activities in KP; Farmers’ Convention was held participated by 5000+ delegates/companies; FAO-UN was motivated to involve President DSP in policy reforms; However the reforms were resisted by the powerful stakeholders; higher prices for better products by the emerging entrepreneurs were resisted by district governments; marketing partners were not interested in farms’ profitability; PSOs impeded entrepreneurship development.
Sustainability and replicability
Young and educated men and women were motivated to develop entrepreneurship models. These persons were well aware of their due rights and got organized to get protected from the evil forces in the public and private sectors. They adopted good practices with cost effective productivity, market access and consumers’ confidence. They kept close liaison with the universities and international companies and got inputs in bringing innovations into their value chain. Multidisciplinary research and development resulted in involvement of engineers, sociologists, medical doctors and other qualified persons to join the food value chain and respond to the emerging issues. Involvement of the manufacturers and supplier of the farm inputs facilitated the farming innovation process. Senior, emerging academician and postgraduate scholars having aptitude for industrial research, got linked with the farmers and producers and processors. Exporters got linked with the chain for exploring new avenues. Hence, mutual interaction of the relevant stakeholders created a win-win situation for all of them, strengthening the food value chain in a sustainable pattern.
COVID-19 Impact and Support
During the COVID-19 lockdown the people needed food products including milk, meat and eggs. The prices went up with various proportions. However, this region comprises mostly rural population with a low input-low output system, hence having a very little effect on the supply chain. Use of mask and sanitizers by the general public was intensified and the cases of COVID-19 infection were not very alarming. Majority of population is Muslim, practicing the washing of face, hands, feet and moistening 25% of head, five times a day for their daily prayers. Such practices kept the incidence of the disease at lower levels. SOPs were developed by the local line ministries for handling food products, which was helpful in minimizing incidence of the diseases. Members of DSP (105) were already trained in biorisk management which was helpful in understanding the situation properly.
Impact of the Dairy Science Park was published by Charles Sturt University Australia at: https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/persons/mqureshicsueduau/impacts/
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