The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) and its local implementing partner Engro Foundation will be improving the dairy cold chain by providing 60 chillers to the dairy farmers in the rural areas of Sindh and Punjab under the Women Empowerment through Livestock Development (WELD) project.
The chief operating officer of MEDA, Kim Pityn; the vice president of Public Affairs and Human Resources, Tahir Jawaid of the Engro Corporation and Trustee Engro Foundation, and the vice president of Engro Foods Supply Chain, Shamsuddin Shaikh signed a contract whereby Engro Foods committed to putting in $670,000 as its contribution for installation and operation of 60 chillers in the districts of northern Sindh and southern Punjab, namely Larkana, Shikarpur, Dadu, Khairpur, Naushero Feroze, Ghotki, Muzaffargarh and Layyah.
MEDA’s Director for Women’s Economic Development, Helen Loftin also attended the ceremony. “Engro has been working towards alleviating livelihood since the very beginning. This partnership with USAID has enabled us to do a lot more for the community and especially for women empowerment. We look forward to bringing forth a better future for these rural communities,” said Tahir Jawaid.
Kim Pityn said expressing her appreciation for the project, said: “It’s our pleasure to see this initiative taking off strongly, which ultimately will create an impact in bringing about positive economic change in the region, especially for women dairy farmers and micro-entrepreneurs.”
As stipulated in the contract, Engro Foundation and Engro Foods both agreed to share the cost of the milk chillers. The chillers will help dairy farmers from remote areas to earn more income by ensuring proper storage of their milk. Presently, milk collected and stored at homes deteriorates quickly, especially during the summer months. It is estimated that 20 percent of the total milk collected is wasted. Storing milk in the chillers would ensure preservation of quality and minimise losses, ultimately resulting in higher returns to the farmers.
Engro Foods and Engro Foundation also agreed to invest in costs of equipment for female livestock extension workers (FLEWs) and female village milk collectors (FVMCs). At the end of the project on December 31, 2013, Engro Foundation will hand over these equipments to the FLEWs and FVMCs.
