Balochistan govt upgrading dairy and livestock sectors

Chalks out a comprehensive plan to exploit sectors’ full potential, generate economic activities

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to upgrade dairy and livestock sectors to exploit their full potential and generate economic activities across the province.

Giving an outline of the plan, Livestock and Dairy Development Department Director General (DG) Ghulam Hussain Jaffer on Thursday said some 29 dairy and poultry farms in the province would be overhauled to meet the international standards and achieve maximum outcome.

“The government has also planned to establish new veterinary hospitals and dispensaries for which an amount of Rs500 million would be earmarked to ensure livestock's better health and productivity.”

He said establishing camel research and milk processing units at Musakhail and Washuk district would also be approved in the coming days.  “In order to generate more revenue, the government would also set up a cattle farm in Lehri district,” the DG said.

Moreover, Jaffer said, an amount of Rs215.340 million has also been allocated to treat the patients suffering from the Congo virus and to provide vaccination to the livestock keepers.

Modern livestock equipment to cater to the needs of cattle-owners and to boost the sector would also be provided. The government would launch the project of Backyard Rural Poultry Balochistan, he added.

Jaffer said lack of proper marketing of livestock is the main issue and for this purpose, the government has approved the plan of the construction of hiding, skin and meat markets to help improve the standard of marketing of this huge sector.

The government has also started a sheep and goat fattening programme and that would boost the sector and also attract people to invest in the sector. The DG said the department is working to strengthen the Semen Production Unit and Animal Disease Investigation Laboratory in Quetta.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2019.