The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) on Thursday distributed 37 goats among the seven rural women as a step towards poverty alleviation.

The University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) on Thursday distributed 37 goats among the seven rural women as a step towards poverty alleviation. In this regard, goat distribution ceremony was arranged by Department of Theriogenology, UAF. The initiative is being taken under project “women empowerment and poverty alleviation through propagation of beetal goats” funded by TIKA ”. As many as 75 rural women are given beetal goats so far under the project, five goats for each farmer. Talking to the participants, Department of Theriogenology Chairman Prof Dr Zafar Iqbal Qureshi said that most of the population was living in the rural area and depending upon the agriculture and livestock sector. He said that the project was initiated keeping economic problems of rural people in view. He said that 51 percent of the population consists of women. It is need of the hour to involve women into the economic activities, he added. TIKA Deputy Program Coordinator Ibrahim Katrici said the project is meant to raise the income of the rural women farmers that will result in reducing poverty. Faculty of Veterinary Sciences former dean Prof Dr Laeeq Akbar Lodhi said the project was initiated to empower the women that will help alleviate the poverty from the country. He said that initially the project was being run in the Faisalabad and Samundri. Director Institute of Agri and Resource Economic Prof Dr Muhammad Ashfaq also spoke on the occasion.