Meat Production Swells To 580.410 Tons As KP Speeds Up Work On New Livestock Policy

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed substantial increase in meat production by producing 580.410 ton meat during 2016-17 due to goal-oriented policies of PTI Govt, which strengthened livestock sector in the province.

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Nov, 2018 ) :The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed substantial increase in meat production by producing 580.410 ton meat during 2016-17 due to goal-oriented policies of PTI Govt, which strengthened livestock sector in the province.

Dr Aasal Khan, Project Director, Livestock Planning and Economic Development, Livestock Department told APP on Friday that meat and milk production have registered remarkable increase in the province where meat production stands at 580.410 ton and milk's at 5.896 million tons during 2016-17.

"The livestock sector provides food services to more than 30.52 million people of which 82pc are rural dwellers having great dependence on agriculture and livestock," he said.

Dr Aasal said farmers with 1-4 animals, cover around 70pc livestock population while only 3pc is in peri-urban commercial farms with over 30 animals each, adding over 60pc of goat population are kept in flocks of less than 30animals and 40pc sheep in units of 50 to 350 animals respectively.

The international concept and demand of halal food has blended the meat market most favourably to countries like Pakistan having four percent growth in its livestock population,' he said.

Vast rangelands are available in KP suited for livestock grazing and this potential need to be tapped to increase milk and meat production in next five years.

He said great opportunities are available for entrepreneurs, businessmen, farmers and people to enter into halal food market and earned valuable foreign exchange for themselves viz a viz the country.

"The livestock reared in KP is mostly originally grown that produced quality meat with unique taste and flavor and that is why we can have sizable share in the international market for halal meat provided that the established standards of production and processing are followed." He said "a big halal market is awaiting exporters of KP to avail this key opportunity and generate thousands of jobs for people besides earning valuable foreign exchange.

Dr Aasal said the Department has launched an inclusive conservation programme to save rare breed of endangered Azakheli buffaloes in Swat district.

The conservation of these buffaloes was started at Charbagh Swat that will help increase milk's generation and meat production. The department is also working on a plan for conservation and protection of an endangered sheep of Damani DI Khan, Hasthangar project regarding and Waziri sheep in KP.

Under 100-days plan of KP Govt, he said, our prime focus is on acceleration of work on different programmes in new approved Livestock Policy 2018 including animals health disease control, breading and genetic resource conservation, veterinary education, research extension and human resource development.

He said new livestock policy will be followed by a 10 years business and Implementation Plan, backed by corresponding legislative framework.

He suggested special laws to counter quack DVM doctors as they are playing with lives of poor farmers and livestock owners.

Dr Aasal said locally the meat and poultry is sold mostly in small unhygienic shops opened in every commercial and residential area that needed to be checked.

He suggested proper weight system for sale and purchase of meat animals, strengthening of institutional coordination, establishment of modern slaughter houses, strengthening of insemination and nutrition services and better livestock marketing.

A central policy planning cell will be established in livestock department to overseas all these reforms.

The department is closely working with veterinary faculties, Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and other stakeholders to ensure that the curriculum code of professional ethics for undergraduates, post graduates and research meets the requirement of natural services.

The department will establish a forum for improving the relationship between livestock health services and traders, migratory livestock keepers and market's administrators with special focus on improving bio-security in animals' trade.