Progress report for
Dairy Science Park
Achievement at a glance
Food security, healthy lives and productive employment for the people were supported as SDGs 2, 3 and 8. Arrangements were made for DSP 2017 at Konya, Turkey. An action plan was prepared with Women University Mardan for safeguarding the health of students, biomedical professionals and consumers. The educated women would be supported for establishing entrepreneurship. Applied research was conducted with SBB University Sheringal. A workshop was held at Phuket Thailand as a follow-up of Biorisk Management collaboration between DSP and Sandia National Lab USA. Peshawar Meat Factory was established to provide much-needed hygienic meat to the local residents. Task Force on DSP was approved by Senior Minister LGRD, Government of KP.Challenges faced in implementation
The major challenges to the DSP have been the marketing forces and service providers exploiting the producers and consumers across the livestock-based food value chain. The provincial government is maintaining about 1000 hospitals focusing on treatment of sick animals, instead of preventive medicine or animals productivity. They call for horizontal expansion to establish more units, increasting financial burden on the provincial treasury. The Endowment Fund suggested under the DSP associated with performance audit for sustainable operations, was resisted as a novel idea, although it was supported by the Additioal Chief Secretary. Establishment of a model slaughter house at Peshawar could not get materialized due to forces desiring status quo. No direct funding could be approved for the activities suggested under DSP. Change in the administration of Khyber Medical University slowed down their collaboration with DSP for BRM. The traditional farmers are provided a spoon-feeding type support by the development projects and their interest in technical support was at minimum level. Higher Education Commission of Pakistan recognized DSP as a Center of Excellance; however, the university administration showed thier least interest. The district administration is trying to maintain prices of milk and meat at a minimum, which make the competition hard for the quality producers.Next Steps
The Fourth International Conference and Industrial Exhibition will be held on Nov 1-5, 2017 at Konya, Turkey. A platform will be provided to academicians, students, scientists, extension workers, farmers and processors and service providers to establish collaboration and linkages. Collaboration will be continued with Women University Mardan for strengthening their linkages with the sister universities, housewives, working women. Case studies would be conducted for investigating the food value chain in the region and documenting the issues faced by producers, consumers and service providers. Entrepreneurship development would be facilitated through demonstration of feasibility models already developed elsewhere. For northern Pakistan the sheep and goats resources and pasture status would be investigated in collaboration with SBB University Sheringal. Bilateral collaboration would continue on Biorisk Management with Sandia National Lab USA to develop and implement national curriculum. Entrepreneurship models would be supported through collaboration with SMEDA, and other partners. Functioning of the Task Force on DSP will be pursued with the provincial government and other sponsors would be explored. Registration of stakeholders, networking partners, quality certification, demonstration of feasibility models and mass awareness would be facilitated under the Task Force. Establishment of common facilities centers and Agri-Marts would be facilitated to fill up the gaps in the food value chain.Beneficiaries
Livestock/poultry farmers; meat, milk and eggs consumers; veterinary/medical doctors, butchers, unemployed youth