Funds sought for poultry, livestock projects

A summary to revive two key poultry and livestock projects, initiated during the tenure of former premier Imran Khan has been sent to the newly-elected Punjab government.

According to sources privy to the matter, authorities concerned have sought allocation of funds for the “Murghi Pal” and “Katta Farba-Katta Bachao” programmes after a gap of two years.

The schemes were terminated soon after the end of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s exit from power.

Additionally, the summary to include them in the new Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2024-25 has been forwarded to the Punjab chief secretary.

Sources said the Punjab chief secretary has requested the restoration of these two projects in a meeting held last week. The Poultry Research Institute has declared the Murghi Pal programme as ‘a good initiative to fight inflation and uplift the economic condition of impoverished families.’

The institution says under the Murghi Pal programme, millions of requests for obtaining chickens are still being received. Poultry Research Institute and the Department of Livestock and Dairy Development after continuous meetings for the last one month, unanimously decided to revive these two projects. Sources within the Poultry Research Institute confirmed that for the restoration of the Murghi Pal programme by including it in the new Annual Development Programme (ADP), funds have been requested.

They say these two programmes will be restored next month.

However, they will be implemented from the beginning of the new financial year from July 1, 2024.

The sources further stated that five hens and a rooster will be distributed among applicants once the projects get official nod. “We prepare these chickens ourselves, crossing them with our original and pure native chickens.”

There are 12 major poultry farms in Punjab located in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Gujrat, Sargodha, Mianwali, Dera Ghazi Khan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, and Bhakkar. Poultry research institutes here produce chickens on self-help basis. 1.5 million chickens were distributed to citizens at a subsidised rate of Rs1,050 only from the start of this programme till its closure. At present there is a demand for 3.5 million chickens.

The livestock department, however, says the “Katta Farba-Katta Bachao Programme” was extremely successful. By paying farmers four thousand rupees per calf monthly, there was a significant increase in the production of halal beef. Additionally, the rate of selling and slaughtering calves within a week of their birth had decreased significantly.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 22^nd, 2024.