Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board (PLDDB) has initiated the process to interview boys and girls interested in getting training from the Board as Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) and girls as Women Livestock Extension Workers (WLEWs) under the project entitled 'strengthening of AI services through skill development of rural youth.'
This will be the third batch of 200 boys and girls each, which will be trained by the Board. Two batches had already passed out and are in the field serving the livestock farmers of the province. These young boys and girls will be selected from eight different districts of the province including Bhakkar, Mianwali, Narowal, Sialkot, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur. Aim of the project is to improve the productivity of animals in rural areas by providing AI skills for making youth self-employed, said PLDDB General Manager (Fields Services and Capacity Building) Dr Naveed Niazi while talking to Business Recorder here on Thursday.
He said that the skill development of rural youth in livestock sector is a need of the hour for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. He disclosed that there is a requirement of 16000 Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) in the livestock sector of the province while shortfall is estimated at over 11000. To fill this gap, the Board had planned to train 2000 Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs).
Dr Niazi said that 95 percent of women in rural area manage livestock thus they can contribute a great deal in enhancing the production through better management skills. Training to girls as Women Livestock Extension Workers (WLEWs) is the part of this project too. He said that the two batches which had already completed training under the banner of the PLDDB are serving the livestock farmers in the field and had completed insemination to 16000 animals till date. It also include ear-tagging of the same number of animals too, Niazi added. He said that AIAs are getting a training of three months and also being provided AI Kit, mobile phone charges plus Rs 7000 per month and motorbike (on interest free instalments) with one liter of free petrol per day to serve the livestock sector.