Home Livestock Sindh’s first ever Women’s Livestock Market organized in Tando Allahyar

Sindh’s first ever Women’s Livestock Market organized in Tando Allahyar

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Sindh’s first ever Women’s Livestock Market organized in Tando Allahyar

NGO Research and Development Foundation organized the market, together with UN ITC and District administration Tando Allahyar under EU funded GRASP project.

By Our Correspondent

Tando Allahyar

The Marui Women’s Livestock Market, first ever of its kind in Sindh, was organized in Tando Allahyar town on Saturday Jan.15, 2022 to encourage female- led Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and livestock farmers for trade and business in livestock sector.

It was organized by Research and Development Foundation (RDF), a non-government organization, together with UN ITC and District administration Tando Allahyar under EU funded GRASP project.

01-Women-Livestock-Market-Sindh-courier-101-Women-Livestock-Market-Sindh-courier-2More than 400 Women Livestock herders and farmers came to sell their animals. There were around 500 buyers both men and women who purchased goats, sheep and cattle from the women sellers.

Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri, Vice Chancellor SAU Tando Jam, Ms. Shabnam Baloch provincial lead of GRASP ITC, Ashfaque Soomro, Executive Director of RDF and Assistant Commissioner Tando Allahyar inaugurated the first women Livestock Market.

While, talking to media, Dr. Fateh Muhammad Marri said that, usually women manage livestock but they hardly sell their animals in Pakistan, particularly in rural areas. “Livestock is second major livelihood source in rural areas of Sindh, in which primarily women are engaged. This intervention would lead to empowering rural women both economically and socially”, he said.

01-Women-Livestock-Market-Sindh-courier-301-Women-Livestock-Market-Sindh-courier-4Ms. Shabnam Baloch said there is huge potential in livestock sector which is untapped yet. “Women entrepreneurs dealing in livestock sector face a number of challenges, which can be addressed with gender sensitive management models,” she said and added that GRASP aims to flourish business opportunities for the rural women in Sindh.

01-Women-Livestock-Market-Sindh-courier-5Ashfaque Soomro of RDF said that with this first of its kind intervention, they have provided women-led SMEs and farmers a platform of trade and business. The market has facilitated women buyers and sellers to expand and uplift their businesses in the livestock sector.

“The response of women sellers and buyers is very encouraging,” Soomro said and added that this will be held every month at the same place.

Ashfaque further said that Livestock Department of Sindh also established its vaccination camp at the market to ensure that every animal is vaccinated, which added value in the sales of animals and gained trust of the buyers too.

Rozina, a livestock farmer from Mirpurkhas brought 50 goats for sale in the market, while sharing her views said, “I am so glad for having got chance to come here, in this women’s livestock market to sell my livestock myself. It’s like my dream came true as I always wanted to sell my livestock myself in such market but never got an opportunity. I am also looking forward to purchase more livestock from here.”

01-Women-Livestock-Market-Sindh-courier-601-Women-Livestock-Market-Sindh-courier-7There were also sales outlets of livestock related products such as Desi Ghee, Butter, Green Fodder, Poultry Products and accessories. Some females also set up the sales outlets of tea and food products.

The officials of INGOs, local NGOs and academic institutions also visited this market place and appreciated the efforts of organizers.

GRASP is a six-year project funded by the European Union and is being implemented by UN ITC in partnership with Research and Development Foundation in 12 districts of Sindh, aiming to alleviate poverty through strengthening rural small and micro enterprises in horticulture and livestock sectors.

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