SARGODHA, Oct 20 (APP):Additional Director Livestock,Sargodha Region,Dr.Naila Maqsood on Tuesday said the provincial government was taking measures to promote the livestock sector by providing a supportive environment and improved facilities to farmers.
She said Punjab’s livestock sector, including Sargodha’s contribution,had recorded a 43 per cent increase in animal exports with 400,000 animals prepared for export annually.
The initiative was expected to generate Rs.11 billion in earnings for rural livestock farmers,she added.
Dr.Naila attributed the progress to the Chief Minister’s Punjab Livestock Card Scheme,under which farmers were receiving Rs.27,000 per animal to meet feed and fodder expenses.
She said the provincial government had notified eight Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) compartments and planned to establish seven more during the current year,including one in Sargodha to facilitate exports to China,Europe and the United States.
A total of 129,581 animals reared under the Livestock Card Scheme had been exported, she added.
The government also planned to establish five meat-processing plants and five modern slaughterhouses,along with meat-packing facilities and commercial and corporate feedlots,she said.
Dr.Naila said Rs.19 billion in financing subsidies would be provided for integrated investments across the livestock value chain while private investment of Rs.65 billion was expected in the meat sector.
She further said Punjab would establish its first Foot-and-Mouth Disease vaccine production unit under a public-private partnership,involving private investment of Rs28 billion.
Giving district-wise export figures,she said 20,000 animals had been exported from Lahore, 24,297 from Bahawalpur,12,529 from Faisalabad, 21,000 from Gujranwala and Gujrat, 27,000 from Multan, 22,000 from Sargodha and 2,661 from Sahiwal.
Under the Livestock Connect system, the government had established direct links with 1,725 fattening farms, 20 export slaughterhouses, 88 meat exporters and 34 meat traders,she said.
The additional director said the number of rural women livestock farmers registered under the Livestock Card Scheme had increased from 90 to 1,107.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
