The livestock sector in Pakistan could not be managed properly without the participation of women farmers, according to Dr. Jamshaid Akhtar, Deputy Director Livestock.
The livestock sector in Pakistan could not be managed properly without the participation of women farmers, according to Dr. Jamshaid Akhtar, Deputy Director Livestock.
He stated that the livestock sector in Pakistan plays an important role in rural poverty alleviation. He remembered the government launching a special initiative to provide buffalo and cows to widow women, particularly those from rural areas.
The government had a very unique idea: provide animals to those widows whose children were availing themselves of school education. The Livestock Department provided a good number of small and large animals to the widows after thorough verification from the schools concerned.
The widowed women are now running their kitchen successfully. “I own one buffalo and one calf, and it is a good source of regular income,” Parveen Bibi, wife of the late Muhammad Bilal and resident of Mauza Sabra in Jalalpur Pirwala, told media.
She claimed to have made Rs 150,000 from the sale of three more buffalo calves. She expressed her gratitude to the government for providing buffalo, which helped her overcome financial difficulties.
Majahid, Aseya Bibi, Amna Bibi, Razziah Bibi, Muhammad Yousuf Khan, and others shared their success stories and praised the government for creating economic opportunities for their families.
Majahid purchased a small animal for Rs 6,000 and nurtured it for a year, while Aseya and Amna had 20 animals each. Yousuf had 16 animals and sold one for his son’s semester fee. He also managed expenditures on the marriages of his two younger brothers by rearing cattle.
Dr. Jamshaid Akhtar also noted that the Livestock Department launched a number of programs, including calf fattening, saving buffalo calves, advisory services, free animals, and low-cost poultry units. He stated that by taking certain steps, such as using silage and promoting Rhodes grass, meat and milk production could be increased. Animals with high genetics should also be encouraged.
The Livestock Department is vaccinating animals and improving the quality of seeds for fodder. The government should also offer interest free loans to farmers to purchase animals and prepare cattle pens and encourage people to rear cattle as it is a highly profitable business.
Livestock is a precious asset in Pakistan, with 70% of the rural population in south Punjab being directly linked to the sector. It has a 14% share in the GDP and has immense potential to alleviate poverty and improve living standards. Pakistan is ranked fifth in milk production, and superior sperm quality could improve animal health, milk and meat production, and maximize income for farmers and the country’s economy.
At the national level, eight million people are rearing cattle, with 53.4 million big animals and 80.3 million small animals. In Multan, 3,611,964 big animals, 2,292,687 small animals, 1,525,416 rural poultry, and 714 camels are rear.
In rural areas, it is easy to rear animals due to the cultural environment, easy access to infrastructure and nutrition, and the role of women farmers in cattle rearing is highly important.