Five-days Hands-On Scientific Training titled “Animal genetic resources; Strategies for improved use and conservation” successfully concluded at Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The activity was organized by National Center for Livestock Breeding, Genetics and Genomics (NCLBG&G)-Sub-Center, University of Poonch Rawalakot (UPR), Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in collaboration with NCLBG&G-Lead center PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Punjab. More than 25 faculty, postgraduate students, researchers and professionals from AJK participated in the training. In the inaugural ceremony, Dr. Ghulam Bilal (CPD-NCLBG&G Project) introduced the project objectives which include capacity building of all stakeholders for improving the productivity of local breeds through modern genetic technologies. He thanked the Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain Kuthu (Scientific Director-NCLBG&G Sub-Center UPR) for managing the training at such a beautiful venue. On the occasion, Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain Kuthu (Dean FV&AS- UPR) emphasized the need of paying attention to the local livestock breeds of AJK which are in danger of being extinct due to uncontrolled crossbreeding. Dr. Tahir Mahmood (District Livestock and Poultry Development Officer) appreciated the efforts of NCLBG&G for organizing training on such an important aspect of livestock conservation.
The concluding ceremony of the said training was held at the Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, UPR, AJK. On the occasion, Dr. Ghulam Bilal (Central Project Director) briefed the participants about the project and its national importance. He emphasized that national level concerted efforts are required for breed improvement in the country under the umbrella of NCLBG&G. Prof. Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Khan (National Training Coordinator-NCLBG&G Project) delivered a though provoking lecture on conserving wild animals and explained the core objectives of NCLBG&G training component. Prof. Dr. Arfan Yousaf (Dean FV&AS-AAUR) encouraged all the stakeholders from AJK to take the lead in conserving and improving animal genetic resources for improving overall livestock productivity of the country. He appreciated the efforts of Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain Kuthu (Scientific Director-NCLBG&G Sub-Center UPR), Dr. Ghulam Bilal (CPD-NCLBG&G), Prof. Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Khan (National Training Coordinator-NCLBG&G Project) and their team for successfully conducting the training. Prof. (Retd) Dr. Muhammad Akhtar Qureshi appreciated the efforts of Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Hussain Kuthu, Prof. Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad Khan (National Training Coordinator-NCLBG&G Project), Dr. Ghulam Bilal (Central Project Director) and their team for visiting UPR-AJK in a national spirit and imparting scientific skills to researchers from AJK. Deans, Directors, Chairpersons and students of University of Poonch Rawalakot participated in the concluding ceremony.
The participants, while presenting their feedback, appreciated the organizers for arranging training on such an important aspect of livestock genetics and suggested that more training should be conducted. At the end of the session, honorary shields and certificated were distributed among the resource persons and participants by the chief guest.
