TIMES REPORT
PESHAWAR: In collaboration with SABAWON and the University of Agriculture Peshawar, a project to increase milk production and reduce feed costs for small farmers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is being worked on rapidly. The project is addressing the shortcomings in veterinary facilities, skills and fodder systems.
In this regard, under the leadership of Professor Dr. Nazir Ahmed Khan of the University of Agriculture and Dr. Owais Akhunzada of Sabawon, veterinary stations in Khyber and Peshawar districts were upgraded in collaboration with the Livestock Authority. Staff were retrained and AI kits, cold chain systems and vaccines were provided. Under a memorandum of understanding, operational costs are now part of the authority’s budget. 24 community livestock extension workers trained by the Livestock Department’s training center AHITI are providing vaccination, deworming and first aid at the village level.
In addition to this, 3 hundred farmers were trained in animal husbandry, feeding and dairy processing, while 200 were given equipment kits. Two fodder crops—lucerne and ryegrass—were successfully trialled on farms. Under which milk production per cow per day increased by 2.4 liters with lucerne-maize silage.
Moreover, under this project, calf weight increased by 318 grams per day with ryegrass silage and the use of milk was reduced. Under this successful project, ten farmer groups are now selling milk collectively with solar refrigeration. 20 vaccination/AI campaigns reached 1,200 farmers. For the first time in years, animals did not lose weight in winter.
However, Rahim Khan resident of Wahid Garhi said that according to experts, its large-scale adoption can reduce fodder shortage in Peshawar Valley by 70 to 80 percent.
Leave a Reply