Ostrich farming gaining ground in Punjab

People were inspired to invest in sector through livestock exhibitions

LAHORE: Ostriches are farmed on a commercial basis in dozens of farms across Punjab for their meat, hide and feathers. The bird's meat, a very similar in taste and texture to mutton but containing very low content of cholesterol and fat, can provide a solution to Pakistan's increasing requirement of protein-containing meat amid escalating prices of mutton, beef, chicken, etc.

Ostrich, which is now considered to be a part of livestock in Punjab, is becoming a popular source of meat due to its delicious taste and health benefits.  Pakistan has not only the ‘perfect’ climatic conditions for ostrich farming, it has also the required manpower, infrastructure and feed much cheaper than many other countries.



Many people have taken ostrich farming as a business. The inspiration to invest in the sector came through the livestock exhibitions. Farmers learnt the world is now switching to ostrich farming as they are now considered livestock.

In recent years, the government has taken various measures to boost the sector. However, still awareness and more efforts are needed to convert ostrich farming into a profitable business.

On the other hand, a number of farmers complained of lack of support from the government as well as the company that provided them with the birds.

The Punjab government, they said, had declared ostrich a livestock but no veterinary assistance was available to ostrich farmers as was provided to those in the livestock business.

Meanwhile, the provincial government also provides Rs10,000 subsidy per ostrich to farmers and as of 2017, had registered over 10,000 ostriches in the province.



Earlier this month, the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences distributed Rs6 million as subsidy among 49 ostrich farmers under its project, titled ‘Developing of Ostrich Farming in Punjab’. This project was launched in October 2016 with Rs70 million with a major portion of around Rs60 million to be distributed among ostrich farmers as subsidy. The UVAS had so far registered 3,000 ostrich chicks at 61 farms in 18 districts of Punjab.

In 2013, a hatchery was established at the Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi for research and to train farmers. The university helped farmers in Rawat, Chakwal and Jhelum set up ostrich farms and provided them technical assistance, consultancy services and medication to ensure safe investment in ostrich farming.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 3^rd, 2017.