Murghi Pal, Katta Bachao and Katta Farba schemes have been revived in the Rawalpindi division.
Soon after the dissolution of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government, the Rawalpindi livestock department had put a halt to Murghi Paal and Katta Farba schemes in the Rawalpindi division.
Sources said that the government has reduced subsidies by 50 per cent on each of these schemes. Additionally, approval has been given to increase the price rate for chicken sets.
The government has formally informed the Department of Livestock and Poultry Research Institute about the revival of the schemes, the sources said.
The poultry scheme's subsidy has been reduced from Rs120 million to Rs50 million. Similarly, the subsidy on the Kata Bachao has been reduced from Rs220 million to Rs120 million and on Kata Farba to Rs200 million.
Earlier, a set of five chickens and a rooster as well as free desi eggs and desi chicken for meat were provided at a subsidized price of Rs1,050. A desi rooster for meat and a set of six chickens was also provided for Rs1,050. This set will now be available for Rs1,250 at the start of the new year, although a higher price may be determined.
Assistant Director in charge of the Poultry Research Project of Poultry Research Institute Dr Atif confirmed to The Express Tribune saying; "The poultry programme has been revived. The funds allocated for subsidy will be available in the third week of July. The previous administration left us with all of the allotted subsidy funds for a year. These funds will expire on June 30. 200 sets of chickens have been prepared for the citizens, who will get them next week at the subsidy rate set by the previous government. Their names were selected via the lottery.”
He said that from July 1, subsidies on the schemes will be reduced by 50 per cent. He said that after receiving funding in July, they will make a final decision.
He said that the chickens they had supplied during the previous two years were raised on their poultry farms. “There hasn't been a single chicken or rooster taken from the open market. We have 12 major poultry centres in Rawalpindi, Attock, Dina, Jhelum, Gujarat, Sargodha, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar and Bhakkar and the up-gradation of these poultry farms have been prepared.”
The official said that they provide 900 grams of chickens and hens that started giving eggs 2.5 months after being brought home. “These chickens may lay up to 250 eggs yearly. They do not require any specific diet, just discarded tea leaves, egg shells, vegetable leaves and leftover food are their only sources of nutrition. We will begin providing these affordable, subsidized chickens in August at the rate of the new fiscal year.”
He said that they have sold almost 2 million chickens over the past two years in Punjab. “The project has been a record-breaking success. The most senior officers and personalities have also been provided with these chicken sets from our farm, while labourers and ordinary Rawalpindi residents also received these sets."
According to the livestock department sources, the government has formally notified about the resumption of the Katta Farba, Katta Palo and Bachao schemes. Once the funds were received, the schemes will be revived in July.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 24th, 2022.
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