Seminar on economic and policy constraints held

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (Parc) in collaboration with Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) organised a seminar on 'Economic and Policy Constraints Affecting the Development of Small Scale Dairy Farmers in Pakistan' here.
The event was aimed at creating awareness among the national stakeholders about launching of a joint project between Pakistan and Australia to help reduce rural poverty among farmers. The project will provide policy advice that contributes to industry and Government considerations of what can be done to promote industry development.
The project has been designed to link with an ACIAR project on the technical issues that cause farm performance deficiencies in the small holder sector. The technical project is expected to focus on some case study communities and show the benefits of improving farm management practices.
The specific objectives of the project include assessment of the economic constraints and Government programmes that affect farm performance for semi-subsistence, small scale dairy producers; and review the industry level policy arrangements that will facilitate longer term growth and development in the context of overseas experiences.
The project output will be a report aimed at industry and Government policy advisors. It will provide an assessment of the dairy supply chain for small scale farms. It will offer policy advice on ways to address the economic constraints and how to refine government assistance measures to strengthen the incentives to expand production.
The workshop participants were from the departments of Livestock Research and Dairy Development Punjab, Livestock and Dairy Development Board, Agricultural Policy Institute, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council and National Rural Support Programme and other livestock related departments.
Member, Social Sciences Division presented a comprehensive overview of the livestock sector of Pakistan and highlighted issues concerning the development of dairy industry. David Harris, project leader from Australia shared the scope and methodology used in the implementation of the project.
The participants took keen interest in the seminar's deliberations and contributed with their inputs about improvement of the project in order to make it more meaningful and relevant with special reference to dairy industry in Pakistan.
The inaugural and closing sessions were chaired by Dr ME Tasneem, Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council. Other senior officials who participated in the workshop include Dr Muhammad Afzal, Chief Executive Officer, Livestock and Dairy Development Board, Dr Shahana Urooj Kazmi, Member, Animal Sciences Division Parc, Dr Sajjad Zaheer Malik, Director General, Livestock research and Dairy Development, Punjab. Dr Tasneem in his concluding remarks emphasised on the assessment of policies in terms of measurable impacts on the economy. He said Pak-Australia collaboration will bring radical changes in dairy sector.