Alyson McFarland, United States Agency for International Development's (USAID) Provincial Director for Punjab, joined Chairman Dairy and Rural Development Foundation Dr Salman Shah here on Tuesday at a ceremony to distribute motorbikes to 43 dairy sector technicians at the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences in Lahore.
The newly trained Artificial Insemination Technicians received motorbikes on a cost-share basis under USAID's Dairy Project, enabling the technicians to provide local farmers in outlying villages with timely and affordable breed improvement services. "As one of the world's largest milk producers, Pakistan's dairy sector offers tremendous potential for the nation's economic growth. Today's graduates will be pivotal in shaping the future of this sector as well as the country as a whole," said McFarland.
Speaking on the occasion, VC UVAS Dr Tallat Naseer Pasha said that the university is collaborating with USAID's Dairy Project to transfer technology and knowledge to small dairy farmers and rural women for the development of Pakistan's dairy sector.
Through the Dairy Project, "the Dairy and Rural Development Foundation (DRDF) is transforming the dairy sector by promoting breed improvement, skill development, and best dairy farming practices," DRDF Chairman Dr Salman Shah commented. "Our combined efforts will help maximise Pakistan's livestock and dairy production," he added.
USAID's five-year, $21 million Dairy Project has impacted the lives of over 50,000 small dairy farmers by improving livestock productivity and increasing their income by at least 10 percent. The project has made great advances in fostering sustainable dairy farm practices, resulting in a 17 percent increase in the average milk yield and generating more than 8,000 employment opportunities for rural men and women.
Nestle Pakistan Chairman Syed Yawar Ali and Senior Development Advisor for USAID Punjab Sajjad Moghal, also attended today's event at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore. Other attendees included CEO DRDF Ahmad Sajjad, Managing Director Punjab Vocational Training Council (PVTC), Sajid Naseer, Dairy Project Chief of Party Jacob Moser, and Dairy Project Field Operations Qaiser Maqsood.