An under-utilised resource

Vast under-utilisation has kept the country’s livestock sector far below its rich and deserved potential. Pakistan can reap higher profits if it only turned to more modern but unconventional methods as opposed to traditional facilities in this sector. From fishermen to livestock farmers, the focus must be on meeting the demands of the industry.

This can be done in the case of fisheries alone by boosting the safety of boats, fitting those vessels with technologically-advanced instruments and thus enabling them to be used for deep-sea fishing. Both the value and quantity of fish caught and sold can be increased manifold. From a total yield of 15.5kg/ha, Pakistan could be aiming for 100kg/ha through stocking of hatchery-raised seeds and other useful methods.

Pakistan has a decent population of farm animals — consisting of 45 million buffaloes and cattle, 24.24 million sheep and 49 million goats. Our farmers don’t seem to have either the kind of in-depth knowledge required for animal husbandry or the capital needed to invest in the prevention and control of animal diseases.

These lapses prove costly and if addressed could result in a massive turnaround. Other fortune-altering action such as productivity increases can be taken through proper breed selection and their use.

One of the top milking cattle breeds in the country has a daily yield of 8 to 10kgs — which is lower than the international level. This could be increased through improved nutrition and better worm control but for that the authorities concerned need to draw up a national policy whereby the quantity of nutrients is determined in an effort to utiilise an animal’s maximum genetic potential. Special counselling and awareness programmes are needed for the farming community to help them make wiser choices.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 1^st, 2018.

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