LAHORE - Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Board (PLDDB) has launched the training of second batch of 200 Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) under its project entitled ‘strengthening of AI services through skill development of rural youth.’
Two hundred young boys having minimum qualification of matriculation have been selected from four districts including Bhakkar, Mianwali, Narowal and Sialkot for the second batch. While, the Board had already conducted training to 105 boys (as AIAs) and 105 girls as Women Livestock Extension Workers (WLEWs) hailing from Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur districts.
Aim of this project is to improve the productivity of animals in rural areas by providing AI skills for making youth self-employed, said PLDDB General Manager (Fields Services and Capacity Building) Dr Naveed Niazi while talking to a group of journalists here on Friday.
He said that the skill development of rural youth in livestock sector is a need of the hour for poverty alleviation and sustainable development. He disclosed that there is a requirement of 16000 Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) in the livestock sector of the province while shortfall is estimated at over 11000. To fill this gap, the Board had planned to train 2000 Artificial Insemination Assistants (AIAs) in first phase. Training of the first batch was completed from October to December last year taking manpower from Southern Punjab and now the second batch has started getting training from the last month.
Dr. Niazi said that training of next batch of 200 Women Livestock Extension Workers (WLEWs) would also be launched by next month. Giving rationale for women livestock workers, he said that 95 percent of women in rural area manage livestock thus can contribute a great deal in enhancing the production through better management skills.