Community livestock extension workers may adopt better source of livelihood.

HYDERABAD -- The role of community livestock extension workers (CLEWs) in the desert areas was lauded as they have taken responsibility to provide services to the herders, who need to save their animals. The local organization has arranged a 22-day training for 65 CLEWs, including 12 female and 53 males hailing from four union councils of Umerkot district, mainly desert areas in collaboration with Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) Tandojam. Besides diagnosing diseases hey have learned the need of nutrition, farm and healthcare management, breeding management and extension services for farm animals.

Dr. Khadim Lakhair, former district health officersharing his experiences said vaccination programme for human population is going on. During 1980 there were a few vases of polio in towns and villages, in which they did not have option other than begging in streets to live for survival. But then he gave credit to polio vaccination, which have saved hundreds of human lives.

Like this, he said the vaccination drive to livestock may have 100 percent positive results to save animals, which contribute in rural economy. Livestock is main source of livelihood for the desert communities, who depend on rains. In case of delay or failure of rains, these people face problems to feed their animals because of dryness. Dr. Lakhair suggested that the training and getting experience need continuity of practice to upgrade themselves. Thus CLEW need continuity for their learning, so they may earn through providing servicesto local herders. Sarwan Baloch, provincial coordinator Germen NGO World Without Hunger (WHH) in his remarks said it is volunteer work, in which these workers may not raise more income through thisservice. Sharing his experiences of working delegates in different countries on cattle management, he said Pakistan does not have more population, compared to other agriculture-dependent countries. Baloch said Thar people have folk wisdom to diagnose any ailment in animals and suggest treatment on their own...