50 graduate students of the Faculty of Veterinary Science of the Tajik Agrarian University named after Shirinsho Shotemur are gaining professional experience on the field thanks to a FAO project, funded by the European Union.
According to FAO Tajikistan, the overall effort aims at supporting the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Veterinary Inspection Service in policy formulation. This activity is implemented in close cooperation with the Association of Veterinarians of Tajikistan.
The traineeship of about two months, during the period of August to October, allows undergraduate students to apply what they have learnt in classrooms and laboratories. The course can also reduce rural poverty through improving veterinary services for local communities that will enhance safety of animal products for domestic consumption and for sale, and also decreases losses in livestock.
“Ensuring quality of veterinary services is very crucial in the rural areas of Tajikistan,” said Firouz Rahimov, professor of the Faculty of Veterinary Science. “Having access to these services is very important for local people in the villages to ensure health and productivity of livestock.”
Students selected proved to be the best in tests and in considering other relevant criteria. They will work in the clinics and on farms of the republican subordinated districts and in the Khatlon province. Students will work closely with experienced veterinarians under the guidance of their professors.
“This is a good opportunity for us to put into practice what we have learned during the university years. I have high expectations towards this course,” said an undergraduate student who was selected to the program. “I hope to deepen my surgery skills. For me, preventative medicine is also a priority, therefore I would like to gain better understanding of medical treatment of animals.”
Livestock has a significant role in the economic growth of Tajikistan. Healthy livestock contributes to enhanced food security for millions of people of the country.
