Sustainable Livestock Revolution: Overcoming Hurdles for Productivity
The livestock sector in Pakistan plays a significant role, contributing around 56.3% to the agricultural value and about 11% to the agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP). However, the prevailing livestock production methods are traditional and subsistence-based, lacking sufficient nutrients. Commonly used animal feed includes “Wanda,” cotton cake (Khal), and wheat and rice straw (toori), which are considered balanced but not optimal.
Farmers fall into three categories: small-scale farmers (70% of dairy farms), mid-scale farmers supplying local cities with raw milk, and corporate farms with 2000 to 6000 genetically proven imported breeds per unit. These corporate farms, sometimes referred to as elite farms, number around 16 nationwide. To boost dairy production, attention should be directed towards educating and supporting small and corporate farmers in terms of livestock practices, financing, and marketing.
The inadequacy of proper nutrition sometimes leads to low milk production, necessitating imports despite Pakistan being among the largest milk and meat producers globally. Addressing these challenges could enhance the dairy sector’s output and contribute positively to society.
Here are some challenges we are facing in this sector:
Inadequate Nutrition: The food we are providing to the farmers are ineduate in nutrinients. farmers usually giving “wanda”, Cotton Cake,straw which lack essential nutrients of the food.
Outdated Practices: The small farmers who held the 70% of herd and contributing largrly in our GDP the techniques they are using are old and outdated. they needed to change there techniques to maximize the prodcution.
Limited Knowledge: People who are working in this domain dont have proper knowledge what they are doing they are just following the method what there ancestors used to do. there is no new invention in it that can boost this sector.
Quality Control: Ther is no check and balance between consumer and producer. Lack of interest between consumer and producer impact consumer confidence .
Limited Access to Finance: Small scale farmeers who are the backbone of GDP faces lack of finances.
Market Access: If we give them proper channel to market and if we link farmers with the market, we can increase dairy product sales. Many farmers struggle to reach the market due to poor infrastructure and limited resources.
If we overcome these problems and challenges, we can enhance the production. There are many solutions available in the society. in the next blog we’ll discuss what is our solution for this problem.