Rs250m to strengthen artificial insemination

The provision will aid in improving livestock, increasing milk production by an estimated 21,000 metric tons per year.

PESHAWAR: Fata Secretariat and Fata Development Programme -Livelihood Development (FDP-LD) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen animal  artificial insemination services in 172  centres situated across the tribal areas, at a cost of Rs250 million.

Jamal Nasir,(acting) Additional Chief Secretary Fata, said that the programme will enhance the level of knowledge and skills in animal insemination techniques of the staff in the Fata Secretariat’s Directorate .

“The financial and technical support of FDP-LD to the livestock sector of Fata will provide  help for improving the indigenous breeds and the livelihoods of cattle farmers,” he said.

A Fata Secretariat spokesperson said that the program will benefit at least 7,000 households in the area.  He said that the FDP-LD program will equip these insemination centres with storage facilities for both semen and liquid nitrogen to improve services.

The provision of 25,800 artificial insemination doses to Fata Secretariat’s Directorate of Livestock and Dairy Development will produce some 7,700 pregnancies of improved breed livestock, increasing milk production by an estimated 21,000 metric tons per year.

He said that FDP-LD began supporting  artificial insemination services in 2009, through a training and grants program that has so far benefited 1,200 livestock farming households.

FDP-LD trained 30 unemployed veterinarians providing them with mobile clinics.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2010.