ADP No/Code: 47/150087

Cost of the Project: 25 Million

Duration of the Project: 3 Years (2015-2018)

Location of the Project: The project is implemented in Chitral District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Objectives of the Project

  i.            To establish advanced diagnostic and research facilities to efficiently meet the present and future challenges in the field of livestock and poultry.

ii.            To provide timely benefit to Livestock and Poultry farmers of the far-flung areas of Chitral District almost at their door steps.

iii.            To alleviate poverty in the target area by increasing farmer’s income through enhanced animal productivity.

iv.            Strengthening Research - Extension and Farmer linkage for effective transfer of technology and feed-back in Veterinary & Animal Sciences.

Expected Results

  i.            Timely diagnostic facilities in field of livestock/poultry will enhance livestock/poultry productivity.

ii.            Farmers of the area will get more income from their animals and socio-economic status of the people will be enhanced.

iii.            This will encourage investment in livestock/poultry farming resulting in increased job opportunities.

iv.            The capacity of farmers will be build regarding proper livestock/poultry management.

Description & Justification of the Project

The country is 3rd largest milk producer in the world and livestock sector is contributing about 11% to the country GDP. Keeping in view the enormous potential in the sector, the Government is giving top priority to promote/develop the livestock sector. Exploitation of the potential lying in the sector will lead to meet the future challenges of food security, create more job opportunities, earn more foreign exchange for the country and raise the living standards of rural and sub-urban people of the country. (International Farms Comparison Network Dairy Report 2014).

The task, obviously, will required a more scientific / professional approach to handle the sector. The establishment of Research center is dire needed to conduct research activities in the field of livestock/poultry health, production and subsequent handling of their by-products (Storing, packing, value addition, marketing, exporting etc).

Chitral district is mostly a mountainous fertile pasture area comprising of upper and lower sub-divisions with majority of the population (95 %) living a rural life. Livestock and poultry keeping in the area is primarily an activity of subsistence and mostly women are involved in this activity. The animals/poultry are traditionally kept under poor management and feeding regimes with no proper vaccination and deworming practices. So the animals are always exposed to various infectious, parasitic and nutritional deficiency diseases. Consequently, the productive potential of the animals is not fully exploited and very often tremendous losses occur due to poor management, malnutrition and disease outbreaks. The farmers have no easy and in- time approach to expert opinions as there is no diagnostic facility and research institute in the area. Commercial livestock and poultry farming in the area are growing gradually. Recent statistics of the existing commercial poultry farming in the area depicts that due public sector attention would develop the area as a Hub of private/commercial poultry farming.

To bring tangible improvement and development, both traditional and growing commercial farming in the area require thorough scientific handling. Various constraints present in this regard are needed to be addressed by the public sector. To cater these issues, establishment of modern diagnostic facilities and production of skilled manpower are the needs of the day.

Livestock Population

Estimated livestock population of district Chitral, according to livestock census report 2006 is given in table-1. 

Table-1. Livestock population in district Chitral

* Economic   Survey of Pakistan 2013-2014

The proposed Veterinary Research & Disease Investigation Center Chitral will comprise of the following three main divisions.

1.      Animal Health Division

a.      Microbiology Section

b.      Parasitology Section

2.      Animal/Poultry Production and Management Division

3.      Animal Nutrition Division

Benefits of the Project

Approximately 10 villages based Livestock Farmers’ Community Organization will be formed in the surrounding villages situated 20 Km radius of Veterinary Research and Disease Investigation Center Chitral where livestock pockets are available. Help of the progressive farmers/elders and other NGOs working in the area including Livestock & Dairy Development, Agriculture Extension Department through administration of respective will be solicited so that the project development implications particularly feed/fodder programs as well as Animal Health and Nutrition are extended to the farmers’ communities with ease and effectively.

Financial Benefits: This is a social service scheme, which aims at increasing the income of farmers of the area through research and development. With the implementation of the project, facilities of in- time animal’s diseases diagnoses will be available to livestock farmers at their door step, saving their money due to traveling far flung for diagnostic purposes. The overall indirect benefits of the scheme would be far more than the expenditure on the implementation of this project.

Social Benefits:

·         Increase in the productivity of animals/poultry

·         Reduction of poverty

·         Human Resource Development/skill development through trainings, field days etc.

·         Improvement in local farming through scientific research

·         Motivation of the people towards farming.

·         Research facilities for the students, scholars and scientist.

·         Creation of awareness among the stakeholders through publication of research papers, scientific articles, seminars, workshops and trainings.