Agri University signs pact with US varsity for livestock uplift


PESHAWAR – The Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Agricultural University Peshawar, signed an agreement with a US university to compete international project meant to improve livestock, dairy products and enhancement of food quality in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Besides, the Agriculture University Faisalabad and Veterinary Sciences University, Lahore also competing for such grants, said Dr M Subhan Quershi, Dean Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agriculture University, Peshawar. The project is worth of US $ 582,346, a three-year project titled “Development of Enterprising Capacity of Small Ruminants and Poultry Production system. The project assisted by Washington University, would mainly focused on Livelihood Improvement and Production of clean food in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Quershi informed.
He added that the project would be focused on analysing the current status of health, productivity, nutrition, fertility and management aspects of the local farming. He further added that the inefficient practices would be documented by working out on their economic impacts. Importantly, he said the improved practices based upon studies to be conducted under the project and elsewhere, would be introduced into the local production system.
Dr Quershi further said that about 14.84 million sheep and goats worth of Rs160 billion were available in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in addition to 27 per cent share in the national poultry sector. “A total investment of Rs 200 billion in the poultry sector, while 834 billion kg meat was produced”, he added.
Dr Quershi said the local breeds would be evaluated as candidates for business entrepreneurs. Similarly, a quality control system would be established for the feed, biologics and medicine as recommended under local and inter-national laws under the project. He also said that the project would also provide opportunity to university experts for visiting US, sharing experiences about the ruminant in Washington and Idaho
Meanwhile, Al-Khidmat Foundation distributed winter package in 50 families of Christian community in tehsil Landi Kotal the other day.
In this connection an impressive gathering was held organized by the Al-Khedmat foundation Landi Kotal chapter in its centre, located in railway line area of Landi kotal.Beside political tehsildar Landi kotal, Arshad Afridi as chief guest ,the foundation officials including Al-Khidmat Foundation Fata and Khyber Agency Presidents Awal Gul Afridi and Lal Akbar Afridi, Jamaat-e-Islami(JI) naib ameer Fata, Zernoor Afridi,  elders of the area, members of Christian families, media persons participated in it.
Tehsildar Arshad Afridi while addressing on the occasion said being human Islam has conformed all rights on non-Muslims equally being enjoyed by  the Muslims. He further said the tribal never considers them apart from their society but share their joy and grief in time of need. The minority was free there to practice their religion rites according their own wishes, he remarked.

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