Prime Ministers Special Initiative for Livestock
Background of the Project
The Government of Pakistan’s Medium term Development Framework (MTDF) outlines several shortcomings in the livestock sector. The Prime Minister’s Special Initiative for Livestock (PMSIL) aims to harness the potential of the livestock sector to enhance the proportion of agricultural value added.
The Project is based on the concept of public private partnership, where GOP and eight Rural Support Programmes through RSPN join hands to launch this Project. An agreement was signed between the Ministry of Food Agriculture and Livestock in December 2006 and the project roll-out started in January 2007.
Geographic Scope of the Project and Partners
The PMSIL project is managed by a Project Implementation Unit set up at the RSPN in
Islamabad. To help with the implementation of the project RSPN partnered with eight RSPs, Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Baluchistan Rural Support Programme (BRSP), Ghazi Barotha Taraqiati Idara (GBTI), National Rural Support Programme (NRSP), Punjab Rural Support Programme (PRSP), Sarhad Rural Support Programme (SRSP) Sindh Rural Support Organization (SRSO) and Thardeep Rural Development Organization (TRDP). The Project is being implemented in 1,963 Union Councils in 80 districts across Pakistan.
Salient Features of the Project
The objectives of the project were two pronged; first was the enhancement of livestock productivity and second was the creation of rural livestock assets. The enhancement of livestock productivity is to be achieved through the provision of livestock production and extension and veterinary services at farmers’ doorsteps targeting 13 million rural poor. For this community organisations of livestock farmer’s have to be created through Social Mobilisation.
The RSPN has partnered with 9 RSPs, these RSPs employ Doctors of Veterinary Medicines (DMV) to oversee training and support. The DMVs are housed in a veterinary clinic that have a clinic assistant and are given PKR 100,000 worth of veterinary supplies & Equipments. The DMV is also provided with a motorbike to visit surrounding areas to treat and vaccinate animals. The project also trains a cadre of 7,250 “self-employed” and voluntary Community Livestock Extension Workers (CLEWs). These CLEWs are trained for one month at a government Livestock Training institution in basic veterinary skills, and enhancement of meat and milk production. The CLEWs get paid by community members for the services they offer and are in touch with the DMVs in case of serious illnesses.
To Create Rural Livestock Assets, the goal of the project is to help produce an additional 12.17 million litres of milk and 0.2 million tonnes of meat.
Achievements of the Project
During the period 2007-2009 the project has achieved the following milestones and targets.
- Setting up of a Project Implementation Unit at RSPN and has recruited 3 RSP coordinators, 23 District Livestock Officers (DLOs) 290 Doctors of Veterinary Medicines (DVMs) and 290 Clinic Assistants (CAs).
- Trainings have been provided to 3100 Community Livestock Extension Workers (CLEWs) and 2885 Female Livestock Farmers (FLFs). These trainings included .
- 290 veterinary clinics have been established and clinical equipment of PKR 100,000 has been supplied to each clinic. The clinics have provided 3,577,014 Vaccinations and treated 1,388,361 animals.
- BRSP has set up four new livestock intensive districts (Pishin, Zhob, Qila Saifullah and Kalat). Here 173 Social Mobilisation staff has been hired and 3100 Community Organisations (COs) have been mobilized.
Financial Support
The Government of Pakistan Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock provided RSPN and its partners with a total budget of PKR 1696.40 million over a period of five years.
Future Direction
The projects has been achieving its yearly targets efficiently, and hopes to keep on its current tract and meet all targets by the end of the project in December 2011.
