Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board (PLDDB) trained Breed Improvement Technicians (BITs) has carried out 448,000 inseminations with ear tagging of animals in the province during last two years with the objective of producing animals with higher productivity.
The Board had so far trained 747 Breed Improvement Technicians (BITs) and 618 Women Livestock Extension Workers (WLEWs) under its project 'strengthening of breed improvement services' through skill development of rural youth in the province with the ultimate objective of increasing milk and meat productivity per animal and enhancing the income and promoting self employment amongst rural youth through training in breed improvement and extension services.
As a result of efforts put in by these young men now the province has 93,012 healthy and traceable progeny on ground, said PLDDB General Manager, Field Services and Capacity Building, Dr Naveed Niazi while talking to Business Recorder here on Saturday.
Niazi said PLDDB had launched the project three years back after the realization that there was a shortfall of about 11,000 BITs in the province as only 900 were available in the government sector against the requirement of 16,000. However, there were also 4,000 BITs working in the private sector. To attract the rural youth towards Board's efforts of promoting training and self-employment scheme, the Board offered 4,000 per month stipend during the training and Rs 10,000 per month field stipend for two years along with free BI kit and motorbike on interest free instalments. Similarly WLEWs were offered a stipend of Rs 100 per day during ten days training and Rs 3,000 field stipend per month for initial two years besides Wanda and other livestock related products for self-sustainable entrepreneurship.
PLDDB GM proudly said that the team so far been produced by the Board had not only carried out 448,000 inseminations with ear tagging and preparing a data base to keep the full track of animals inseminated and progenies produced. He said 46,506 male calves produced through this insemination carries 50 kilogram extra weight per animal thus making 2,235,300 kilograms of extra beef available for local and export market. If it is sold at the rate of Rs 200 per kilograms then it means; efforts by the PLDDB workers had brought Rs 465 million more to the livestock farmers and the provincial economy.
Likewise, 46,506 female calves with at least two litre extra milk per animal per day has made 134.86 million litre additional milk in the system and creating extra revenue of Rs 5394 million. These BITs and WLEWs are covering 16 districts in the province imparting services in 2500 villages and benefiting 1.2 million livestock farmers, Niazi added.