The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore (UVAS) signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lahore Division Cattle Market Management Company (LDCMMC) for improving bilateral association through research, capacity building trainings, planning & policy advocacy.
UVAS Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Masood Rabbani and Acting Managing Director/Company Secretary LDCMMC Mr Muhammad Sarfraz Arshad signed the MoU in a ceremony held at UVAS Lahore.
Dean Faculty of Biosciences Professor Dr Habib-ur-Rehman, Dean Faculty of Veterinary Science Professor Dr Kamran Ashraf, Professor Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani and UVAS faculty members and officials from LDCMMC were present on the occasion.
Addressing the MoU ceremony, Professor Dr Masood Rabbani said that it was direly needed to suggest options for the guidance/awareness of farmers regarding the right direction that how farmers could enhance their profit, save money and attain maximum rates of their animals. He also shared role of Agriculture Sector Linkages Program (ASLP), which is an Australian funded project working very well in different districts of Punjab for the profitability of poor dairy farming community.
He called for setting up a computerized downloadable informative platform for facilitating farmers and journal public. He said farming community can get maximum information from such platform. Professor said UVAS is always open for working together with allied sector and also for facilitation of professionals to solve their problems by using its knowledge, skills and research.
Muhammad Sarfraz Arshad thanked UVAS for providing technical assistance to curb disease related issues under this agreement.
According to the MoU, both parties would make strategic advice on research, infrastructure and service delivery improvement and their expert opinion in developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for different functions of the cattle markets including disposal of dead animals, quarantine units, animal dips, first aid of animals, animal waste management, cleaning and disinfection and others. Both organizations would arrange joint research activities regarding matters of mutual interest in the best interest of traders and participate in internationally funded projects. Both the parties would exchange staff for research, teaching and discussions and also exchange information, library materials and research publications. They would also arrange training programs, seminars, workshops and coordinate and implement research-based educational best practices in the areas of animal welfare, cattle markets, disease control, transportation of animals and farming. They would also arrange first aid camps and other events for stakeholders.