Environmental Protection Society (EPS) in partnership with Concern Worldwide has launched Supporting Early Recovery for Conflict affected families (SERCAF) project in Barikot, Kota Union Councils of Swat Tehsil and Matta/Kharirei, Pirkaley Union Councils of Matta Tehsil.
The project intended to provide support to the poor and vulnerable affectees in Vegetable gardening, Livestock, Enterprises and Provision of marketable technical training in closed collaboration with the Govt/Private organizations.
The team of the project has finalized identification of deserving beneficiaries through extensive visits to the villages and detailed discussions with the communities. The implementation of the program has been initiated.
In this context an MOU between the EPS and the NWFP Livestock and Dairy Development was signed on 16th Jan 2010 through the district Livestock Officer Swat and Project Manager (SERCAF).
The purpose of the MOU is that, both the parties will work for the live stock development in the project area. The EPS will finance the activities of Livestock sector in vaccination and deworming of the animals. The poor vulnerable farmers who have lost their animals in conflict period will be provided cows of improved breads to be proved as income earning source for a poor family. Moreover, units of poultry breed for eggs purposes will be provided to the poor women.
The livestock and Dairy Development department will provide technical and moral support in implementation of the activities. The departmental staff will be actively involved in the campaign of the project.
The District Livestock Officer Swat, applauded the efforts of the EPS and Concern Worldwide in the Livestock based activities. He further added that nearly all the farmers keep the Livestock for their own consumption or for income earning. He elaborated that economy of the farming community is mainly based on Livestock keeping. There is need for further management of Livestock through awareness creation. He requested other organizations in private sector working in Swat to make efforts like EPS and come forward in Livestock sector.
