Development project: 256 women get goats from Turkish agency

Agency vows to support more poverty alleviation projects in Pakistan.

FAISALABAD:

As many as 256 women were given goats by Turkish International Cooperation Agency (TIKA) in connection with a poverty alleviation project on Tuesday. 

Speaking at the distribution ceremony held at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad, TIKA members vowed to continue support for more poverty reduction initiatives in the rural areas.

TIKA Coordinator Kenan Yusal said his organisation was considering supporting mango farmers in Pakistan and helping them increase their produce so that it could be exported to Turkey.

He said the TIKA would continue its liaison with the women who were selected for its Goat Breeding for Reducing Poverty and Strengthening the Role of Women in Rural Areas project. “We hope to start purchasing goats from these women in five years’ time,” he said.

He said the people of Turkey were keen on assisting in economic development in Pakistan.

UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Iqrar Ahmad Khan said the university was working on several projects which could be initiated with TIKA’s assistance. He said a TIKA extension centre and a skill development centre could be set up at the university under its poverty alleviation programme.

He said the latter could be helpful in imparting technical training among deserving people. Prof Khan said the TIKA and the UAF experts were considering providing cows to deserving livestock farmers to boost their incomes.

He said the UAF had recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Ankara University.

Faisalabad Division Commission Syed Tahir Hussain assured the TIKA officials of his office’s support in their poverty alleviation projects.

Pak-Turk Schools General Manager Turgut Puyan later told the media that he would recommend UAF vice chancellor’s name for a proposed visit of five vice chancellors of Pakistani universities to Turkey. He said his organisation would assist Pakistani education institutions in getting funds from the European Union.

Faculty of Veterinary Sciences Dean Dr Laeeq Akbar Lodhi and Institute of Agricultural and Resource Economics Director Prof Muhammad Ashfaq also spoke on the occasion.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2012.