Small farmers to be helped to set up model dairy forms
CHAKWAL: Shahab Khawaja, Secretary Ministry of Industries, Production and Special Initiatives (MOIP&SI) has said that Pakistan Dairy Development Company (PDDC) is focusing on small farmers to help them set up model dairy farms so as to increase their farm productivity and profitability. He said this during his visit to model dairy farms and a biogas tank in District Chakwal developed by PDDC on Sunday.
Geoff Walker, Chief Executive PDDC and senior staff of the MOIP&SI also accompanied the Secretary. The purpose of the visit was to review progress made by these farms since their owners have joined Pakistan Dairy Development Company’s Model Farm Programme, and to appreciate more about the implementation of the Model Farm Programme.
Under the terms of this programme, PDDC (or “Dairy Pakistan” as it is widely known) provides a range of equipment designed to allow the introduction of more modern and productive farm management and feeding practices. Most importantly, through many visits of Dairy Pakistan Farm Production Advisors, and Manager Farm Production, the farmers are provided with the know-how to improve their productivity and profitability.
Since joining the Model Farm Programme, one such farmer, Mr. Rasheed has reduced his herd size through awareness of the need to cull unproductive animals, but has increased his daily milk production from 100 liters per day to 200 liters per day, a 100% increase.
Speaking to the media on the occasion, the Secretary said that realizing the need to increase our milk production, PDDC was set up in November 2005 under the supervision of MOIP&SI on the model of public-private partnership and foreign experts were hired from Australia and New Zealand to run it efficiently.
The Secretary told that our objective is to set up 1000 such farms all over the country. He also commended PDDC for setting up Biogas Tanks. As the country is facing energy crunch, the Biogas Tanks programme was a welcome move. Since, these tanks are fuelled only by animal waste and water, the cost of production of the gas is very low, he observed telling that PDDC aims to set up 200 such tanks by June this year.
Mr. Walker noted that Dairy Pakistan was nearing its 200th Model Farm implementation, and excellent results were being achieved for the farmers on the program without exception, and across all of Pakistan. He further said that main purpose is to transfer modern farming technology to Pakistan and assist and train Pakistani farmers in low cost dairying. Walker also invited the existing dairy farmers to join the PDDC Model Farm Programme.-SANA
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