Ostrich farmers get Rs6.162m

LAHORE

The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, has distributed cheques worth Rs 6.162 million as subsidy among 49 ostrich farmers under its project titled “Developing of Ostrich Farming in Punjab."

According to a press release issued here Saturday,  Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department Secretary Nasim Sadiq chaired the concluding session of the cheque distribution ceremony while Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha gave away the cheques to the 49 ostrich farmers belonging to different districts of Punjab. 

The project is a joint venture of UVAS and Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department to establish ostrich farming as a cottage industry in Pakistan.

Nasim Sadiq urged to make only one group on Whatsapp for sharing their ideas, experiences, interaction with other farmers for their assistance, finding solutions to overcome the impediments involved in the development of ostrich farming in Punjab. He said livestock department and UVAS equally focused to solve problems regarding ostrich breeding, nutrition, disease control and vaccine to enhance ostrich production in the country. He thanked UVAS for providing a good platform. He also said the department would arranged ostrich farm field visit for the farmers.

Dr Pahsa said that UVAS and Punjab Livestock and Dairy Development Department were working together for the development of livestock sector and playing a vital role in enhancing the profitability of the poor farmers in Pakistan.

Earlier, Ostrich Project Director Prof Dr Ather Mahmood, expert Col Maqsood and Pakistan Ostrich Company Chief Executive Officer Raja Tahir Latif highlighted the importance of ostrich farming and shared their ideas, experiences with the farmers for the growth of ostrich farming in Punjab.

The project was launched in October, 2016 with a total budget of Rs 69.94 million with major portion of around Rs 60 million to be distributed among ostrich farmers as subsidy. 

The UVAS has so far registered 3,000 ostrich chicks at 61 ostrich farms in 18 districts of Punjab. The project team visits each registered farm regularly and guides the farmers about feed, medicine and management-related issues.