Dairy Science Park 2013 concluded

The Second International Workshop on Dairy Science Park was held on November, 18-20, 2013 at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar. The event was opened by Prof Dr Muhammad Afzal, Vice Chancellor, with Mr Zahidullah Shinwari, President Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industries as the Guest of Honor. The event was sponsored by HEC, ICI Pakistan, Ghazi Brother, Romer Labs, Reon Energy Solution and Engormix.com displayed their products and services. The Higher Education Commission, Livestock and Dairy Dev Department, PVMA, SMEDA and KPCCI provided technical and financial support for making the event a success.

The Chief Organizer DSP/Dean Prof Dr Muhammad Subhan Qureshi introduced the workshop theme being developing enterprising capacity of livestock and poultry farmers of Pak-Afghan Region through partnership of academia, government, entrepreneurs, exporters & civil society with special focus on meat production targeted at International Halal Food Market. He welcomed the participants to the august forum and reviewed the development of livestock sector, success stories on various fronts and the challenges being faced by the veterinary graduates, government department and the Universities and the private investors. He appreciated all the participants from various parts of the country, the neighboring Afghanistan and Turkey. The Business Recorder was offered special thanks for taking the idea and roadmap of the Dairy Science Park to the people of the country and for conveying the soft image of Peshawar, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakhtun community to the world, frequently getting news on terror from this region.

The Conference was attended by 500+ members. He thanked the Higher Education Commission for providing Rs.0.5 million as a grant for arranging the event and also the other sister and development agencies and private companies in supporting the event. The conference presented high quality papers during 9 sessions by speakers from various parts of the country, 6 faculty members forKabulandNangarhar UniversityAfghanistanand Dr Mithat Direk fromSelcuk University,Turkey. The number of papers presented were 200, comprising oral 85 and posters 115. The abstracts were published in the proceeding gook with issn number. A recommendation committee has compiled their findings and will be finalized soon for implementation by the relevant stakeholders. The Dean appreciated the patronage of the Vice Chancellor and support of the University Administration, faculty members, supporting staff and students in making the event successful.

The Session on Livestock Development and Business was chaired by Dr Mithat Direk Turkey; on Meat and Dairy Technology by Prof Hamidulalh Shah, Dean Nut Sci; Reproduction and Genetics y Prof Dr Zahid Hussain Dean RSS; Animal Health by Prof Dr Muhammad Ashraf, UVAS Lahore; on Poultry Science by Dr Abdul Waheed Alvi, Director L&DD Batagram and on Feeding and Nutrition by Dr Ataullah, VRI, Peshawar. The working committee for recommendation comprising Dr Shakoor Ahmad, Dr Rifatullah Khan, Dr Shoaib Sultan and Dr Asad Sultan recorded the proceedings during various sessions. Dr Zahoor ul Hassan facilitated the presentations and Dr Umer Sadique worked as the conference secretary. Dr Nazir Ahamd and Dr Muqadar Shah facilitated accommodation of the delegates and Dr Hamid Sattar took care of their food.

The private sector companies presented their products and services, comprising ICI Pakistan, Romer Lab, Reon Energy Solutions, Nawan Lab, Engormix.com, Ghazi Brothers and PASTIC-Pakistan Science Foundation, in addition to the Animal Nutrition, Poultry Science and Dairy Technology Center of the Faculty.

Conference shields were presented to the Guest of Honor, the Vice Chancellor, the Chief Organizer, Dr Hamayun Khan as the best organier, Dr Ihsanullah for dairy farm servcies, Mr Dost Muhamad Khan as best student organizer, Dr Sarzamin Khan as NAYS jurist, Dr Nazar from Afghanistan, Dr Mithat from Turkey, Dr Iqbal Khattak DG Livestock (Research), Dr Muhamamd Islam Director Meat project, Dr Shaukat Khan, Relief Inernatinal and Mr Imtiaz ICI Pakistan.  With the collaboration of  National Academy of Young Scientists (NAYS) Pakistan, the Best Young Scientists Award 2013 (Veterinary Sciences) was presented to Ms. Maryam Javed, Mr Ejaz Ahmad and Mian Muhammad Avais.

The conference was successful in convincing the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry to approve a Standing Committee on Livestock and to establish a business desk at the Chamber for the first time in their history. It will facilitate graduate entrepreneurs establishment, supported by the required technical and marketing support from all concerned, including the private groups, government departments and the University. Investment opportunity will be explored within the country and in friendly countries through bilateral cooperation. The Dean appreciated the efforts of Dr Sarzamin Khan in demonstrating poultry and quails production under a revolving fund, postgraduate thesis research and funded trainings for various civil society organizations. It has paved the way for replicating these feasible models by the industry and government, and adding facilities like slaughtering, processing and quality control backup. Dr Umer Sadique supplemented these efforts through research on livestock and poultry diseases, evaluation of the food quality from livestock and poultry origin, establishing Zoonosis Information Resource Center and a diagnostics lab for zoonotic diseases with the collaboration of Relief International.

A consultative meeting was held among the representatives of Pak-Afghan-Turkey Business Group. Pakistani delegate comprised the Chief Planning Officer, Agriculture Department Mr Ahmad Saeed; Director General Agriculture; Mr Zafar Paracha from Feed Industry; Mr Rashid Aman SMEDA, Dr Asif from civil society and Prof M Subhan Qureshi Chief Organizer DSP. Dr Mithat Direk from Selcuk University, Konya represented Turkey and Dr Nazar from Nangarhar University represented Afghanistan. It was recommended that the resources available in the region need to be explored and developed for the welfare of the local people and frequent exchange of delegations is needed for promoting scientific and economic collaboration and enhancing trade among these countries. Meat production, processing and export was identified as an important area for cooperation.   

The recommendation committee of the DSP is working on the draft based upon discussions during various sessions of the workshop and is being discussed by they working committee and executive committee and will be presented at the KPCCI for consideration by the Standing Committee on Livestock and incorporation into the business desk, the University setup and government departments and private sector organizations and groups.