37. In this paper I have tried to deal with policy issues related to the domestic funding of livestock services. There is hardly anything earthshaking in what has been said. I also realize that policy changes need political commitment at the highest levels of government. But I believe equally that DVS can have a distinct role in the policy-making process. I have attempted to advance the view that they have sufficient elbow-room to influence some of the factors that determine the policy variables and options even if they cannot on their own change policy.
38. In a sense this reflects the distinct options which are available to DVS as different from higher level decision-makers. DVS can be instrumental in the transitional phase between free services at one end of the spectrum to privatized services at the other. In this distinct role DVS are also in a position to sustain the momentum of appropriate policy changes in the financing of livestock services. But the first and critical step in this process is that DVS themselves have the conviction that they can play this distinct role. I hope this paper has made a little contribution toward making them take that step.
