Substandard Artificial Insemination (AI) is deteriorating the genetic resources of the livestock in the country, said University of Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan. He addressed a seminar on the project of indigenous chicken and goat arranged by Institute of Animal Sciences, UAF under the banner of the Farm Animal Genetic Resource Asia Project.
The Vice Chancellor said that nothing wrong in the usage of AI but substandard or its misuse creates the hurdle to get the potential benefit from the livestock sector. He stressed upon the need to create the awareness regarding conservation of indigenous genetic resources. He said that it was a matter of concern that thousands of researches were being conducted in the country but they are not being translated into goods and service. He said that livestock is the mainstay of the socio-economic life of the people in Pakistan. It is contributing about 53% of the agriculture value added. He urged the researches to address the problems of the farming community for the welfare of the society.
He said that indigenous goats and poultry are very valuable parts of our farm animals. He said that UAF was used to organise the milking competition. He said that there is the opportunity for the SME to develop the business. He said that the UAF is running project of goats and hens distribution among the rural as a step towards poverty alleviation.