PESHAWAR
\nAmidst the ongoing struggle to combat poverty in rural Pakistan, the story of Fawad Khan from Nowshera district stands out as a beacon of hope and resilience for many unemployed youth.
\nAt just 28-year-old, Fawad\u2019s journey from unemployment to becoming a successful milk seller highlights how a simple business could transform the lives of youth of Pakistan. After completing his matriculation, Fawad faced the harsh reality of unemployment, a challenge that many in rural areas of Pakistan are grappling with.
\nDetermined to provide a better life for his family, he ventured into the milk business, a decision that has since proven to be life-changing. \u201cInitially, I struggled with unemployment after completion of my matriculation,\u201d Fawad recounted in an interview with APP. \u201cBut diving into the milk business was a turning point for me. It allowed me to earn a decent livelihood and support my family besides fulfilling the education and other essential expenses of my relatives.\u201d
\nFawad\u2019s daily routine begins before dawn as he travels to various villages, including Mohib Banda, Amankot, and Dheri Mian Ishaq for collection of milk from local livestock owners. The collected milk is then sold throughout the day, often extending into the night. His dedication and hard work have paid off, allowing him to earn a reasonable income.
\nDescribing the milk business as highly profitable, Fawad said that he collects about 20 kilograms of milk daily, purchasing it at Rs200 per kilogram and selling it for Rs240 per kilogram meaning by earning Rs40 per kilogram.
\nThe success of his venture has not only improved his financial situation but has also enabled him to secure a visa for his brother, Akhtar Ali, to work in Dubai. Encouraged by his achievements, Fawad is now planning to further expand his business. He intends to open a new shop in the main bazaar of Pabbi, which he hopes will boost his income and create additional opportunities.
\nFawad Khan\u2019s story exemplifies how small-scale businesses like milk selling can play a crucial role in alleviating poverty in rural regions. His success underscores the potential of local enterprises to drive economic development and improve the quality of life in underserved areas.
\nTo promote livestock and dairy development in KP, the then Govt had launched three mega projects worth Rs3,214 million under \u2018National Agriculture Development Program\u2019 worth over Rs309.7 billion, which played key role in alleviation of poverty, increase meat and milk production in the province.
\nThese gigantic projects include \u2018Poverty Alleviation Through Development of Rural Poultry\u2019 amounting to Rs.834 million, Save the Calf worth Rs1,554 million and Feedlot Fattening Programme of Rs826 million, which provided much-needed relief to price-hike stricken people, women, persons with disabilities and under-privileged segments of society.
\nGul Bibi, a poor housewife and mother of nine children at village Chamkani, Peshawar is among thousands of poor people and women benefited from a poultry project in KP. \u201cI received 12 poultry birds including 10 hens and two cocks from the livestock department under the national poultry program, which made me financially stable,\u201d she told APP.
\n\u201cI collect about six to eight eggs daily from my 10 hens out of which my children consume four eggs at home and sell the remaining at rate of Rs30 per egg these days, thus earning around Rs3,000 per month with no feeding expenses,\u201d the 52 years-old lady pushing chicken\u2019s to shed to protect them from heat told APP.
\nShe operates a poultry farm on the roof of her four-marla house for the last three-year besides rearing a buffalo to financially support her family, Gul Bibi said, \u201cthis is a very good scheme for poor people and she feel proud to support my husband, who is working in a factory to meet the education expenses of her children, dowry for daughters\u2019 marriages and kitchen needs.\u201d
\nAsal Khan, Director General, Livestock and Dairy Development Department Extension KP said that milk business has great potential in Khyber Pakthunkhwa and the department was encouraging it due to its vast employment market at rural areas besides financial laurels.
\nDeclaring dairy is one of the major sub-sector of agriculture, he said this sector contributes, along with livestock, about 60.6% of value added agriculture and 11.7% of the total GDP. Pakistan is ranked as the 4th largest dairy producer in the world and about 97% of the milk consumed is in fresh form and remaining 3 % is processed (UHT) in Pakistan.
\nThe average milk production in Pakistan for the past 10 years has remained around 50 million tons with highest milk production in Punjab and Sindh provinces, followed by KP, and Baluchistan. The estimated production of milk in Punjab is about 63%, Sindh as 23%, KP as 12% and Baluchistan as 2% of the total milk production in Pakistan. The country\u2019s milk is being preferred at Afghanistan, Saudia Arabia, UAE, Hong Kong China and Tajkistan, said Asal Khan.
\n\u201cThe main objective of the Livestock and Dairy Development Department (Extension) is to alleviate poverty by improving the socio-economic condition of farmers through enhancing the productivity of their livestock in terms of milk, meat and other livestock products.\u201d
\nHe said livestock sector of our province has great potential of making contribution to poverty alleviation but this potential is still untapped. He said the major constraint in making meaningful efforts for enhancing per animal productivity are the farmer\u2019s shyness to adopt improved farm practices and the investors\u2019 reluctance to invest in the sector both mainly lack of access to the required information.
\nKeeping in view of the above challenges, he said the department has established Information Cell at Peshawar for efficient dissemination of the needed information to all stakeholders in the province.
\nAn official website of the department was launched for education and information of milk sellers and farmers and hoped that the information once put on the website shall contribute in bringing about desirable changes in the knowledge , attitude and skills of the livestock stakeholders across the board.
\nDr Asal Khan said that work on five new mega projects including genetic improvement through cross breeding of quality breed, community meat and dairy development project, establishment of veterinary dispensaries in rented buildings, establishment of environmentally controlled poultry housing shed systems and setting up state-of the- art veterinary university helped bring positive improvement in people\u2019s lives.
\nHe said the number of an endangered Azakheli buffalo were increased at Madain and Khawazakhel Swat after a substantial number died during 2010 devastated floods and 2008-09 militancy in Swat, resultantly, the meat and milk production besides income of poor people was adversely affected in different districts of Malakand division.
\nThe cooperation of masses, district administration and livestock owners was imperative to counter challenges of milks\u2019 adulteration, processing and marketing, genetic and breed improvement of different livestock besides checking prices and quality of meat in the open markets.
\nDr Asal urged consumers to bring milk adulteration in Govt notice if found so that prompt action could be taken against the accused.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Amidst the ongoing struggle to combat poverty in rural Pakistan, the story of Fawad Khan from Nowshera district stands out as a beacon of hope and resilience for many unemployed youth. At just 28-year-old, Fawad\u2019s journey from unemployment to becoming a successful milk seller highlights how a simple business could transform the lives of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-428974","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-business"},"yoast_head":"\n