Sindh has 27 per cent share in the livestock sector of the federating units of Pakistan including the four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan said Livestock and Fisheries Department Director General Dr Nazir Hussain Kalhoro.
He was speaking at the concluding day of the Dairy, Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Advance Technology (DALFA) cattle show on Monday.
Kalhoro said that Sindh has 1,207 freshwater reservoirs which sustain 40 per cent of the eight million rural families.
He said that vast land is available for poultry and livestock farming in Sindh, while due to the large consumption of poultry and livestock, numerous number of business centers are also present in the province.
Talking about the potential of livestock in the province, he said that the province is connected to international markets through land, sea and air routes. Dr Nazir said that Sindh has a pro-poor and farmer-friendly government, while continuity in the political system and sustainable policies provide a conducive environment for investment.
He further said that Sindh has 45 million domestically reared cattle and 18 breeds of goats and sheep due to extensive public sector infrastructure. Apart from this, a large number of buffaloes are also found in the province along with various types of cattle that are resilient to diseases.
The DG said that higher education institutions in Sindh are preparing technical manpower for the livestock sector while cheap manpower is also readily available in the province that has planes, mountain ranges and forests and abundant fodder due to rivers and canals.
He further said that Sindh's livestock sector provides excellent opportunities for investment due to business-friendly infrastructure, easy availability of private capital in the form of public-private partnerships, along with diverse weather and climate. DALFA Patron General Haris Mithani said that the goals of DALFA Cattle Show saw participation from farmers and entrepreneurs of livestock, dairy, agriculture, and fisheries sectors. Mechanised agriculture, progressive farming and fertilizer and pesticide firms were also at DALFA to showcase their products at the three-day show.
Through the seminars organised in conjunction with the show, farmers were imparted awareness on value addition of milk, latest technology in milk processing and packaging innovation, farm management and livestock health and nutrition.
He further said that DALFA Cattle Show provided information to farmers about government policies while networking opportunities among key stakeholders including farmers, cattle doctors, machine manufacturers, international and local buyers of value added milk products were also provided.
Zuhair Naseer, MD, Badar Expo Solutions and organizer of the exhibition, said that DALFA showcased high-breed cattle along with birds and pets, while beauty competition of animals and show of camels and horses were also organized in the expo.
Zuhair Naseer said that the show facilitated business-to-business and business-to-consumer meetings. The DELFA Cattle Show was organized under Badar Expo Solutions in which more than 100 companies participated and a large number of business visitors and public also attended the show.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 3rd, 2023.
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