The government will set up liquid nitrogen plant in Khyber Agency aimed at further improving the artificial insemination services in federally-administered tribal areas (Fata).
"The government has allocated Rs 15.6 million in ADP 2006-07 for the project which will produce results during three-year time," Dr Momin Khan Afridi, deputy director and in-charge, Fata Livestock and Dairy Development Department, told APP here on Sunday.
He said the installation of the liquid nitrogen plant will fulfil the long-awaited demand of the tribesmen, adding at present, liquid nitrogen gas is being collected from Punjab.
After installation of this plant in Khyber Agency, he said the shortage of liquid nitrogen gas in Fata insemination centres would overcome once and for all.
The official said Mobile Veterinary Clinics (MVC) will be set up in Bajwar, Mohmand, Kurram agencies and adjoining Frontier regions at a cost of Rs 10 million to control the contagious livestock diseases and improve the indigenous poultry breeds by identifying cross-breed bulls of high genetic merit.
The department is striving for streamlining the unplanned marketing system and making improvement in the range lands in tribal areas, said Dr Afridi.
He said for this purpose the department has decided to set up model farms across Fata through public-private partnerships for which Rs 9.6 million has been sanctioned by the government.
The government has allocated a huge amount of Rs 97.479 million in current fiscal year for livestock development to complete new projects and 45 ongoing schemes to fully exploit the vast potential of livestock and dairy development sector in tribal areas, said Dr Afridi, adding that the PC-I of the new schemes is being prepared.
To a question, he said the government will launch 'capacity building' project at a cost of Rs 150 million for training of technical staff, infrastructure development and strengthening of sub-offices of the livestock department across Fata.
Similarly, he said that Feed and Fodder Improvement Programme in Fata is another project planned for three years which will be completed with an estimated cost of Rs 10 million.
He said the department will set up demonstration plants across Fata besides providing mineral blocks and chopper machines to the tribesmen to fulfil the fodder requirements of livestock.
Dr Afridi said the strengthening of peasantry farms at the Governor's House at a cost of Rs 1.5 million and scholarship programme for veterinary assistants to provide in-service training in animal husbandry and extension services for graduate and non-graduate technical staff in Fata is also in the pipeline.
To organise breeding of the animals which has been raised on small holdings by poor and landless farmers in Fata, he said the extension communication programme costing Rs 12.46 million will be launched in tribal belt.
About the ongoing gigantic "Strengthening of Livestock and Services Project (SLSP)," Dr Zia-ur-Rehman, in-charge of the project, said it was the initiative of the government and the European Union to strengthen livestock services in all provinces, including Fata.
He said SLSP was launched in January 2005 and will continue till September 2009.
The proposed budget 2006-07 is Rs 16.32 million while last year Rs 2.20 million has been spent on brining improvement in the livestock sector besides, arresting livestock diseases in Bajaur, Mohmand, Khyber and Kurram agencies, said Dr Zia.
He said that 50 motorcycles were being distributed amongst the technical staff to ease their mobility while serving the poor farmers at their doorsteps in remote tribal areas.
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