Role of Livestock Sector in the Socio-Economic Uplift of Pakistan

7/28/2019 Role of Livestock Sector in the Socio-Economic Uplift of Pakistan

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Role of Livestock Sector in the Socio-Economic Uplift of the Rural Pakistan1128

Province Wise Percent Distribution of Cattle

20

49

23

8

NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

%%

Provincw Wise Percent Distribution of

Buffaloes

7

65

27

1

NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

%

(a) Province wise percent distribution of cattle (b) Province wise percent distribution of buffaloes

Provincw Wise Percent Distribution of Animals

Sheep

13

24

15

48NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

%

Provincw Wise Percent Distribution ofGoat

18

3723

22

NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

%

(c) Province wise percent distribution of sheep (d) Province wise percent distribution of goat

Province Wise Percent Distribution of Camels

7

22

30

41 NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

%

Province Wise Percent Distributi on of Mules

13

52

24

11

NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

%%

(e) Province wise percent distribution of camel (f) Province wise percent distribution of mules

Province Wise Percent Distributi on of Horses

22

47

13

18

NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

%

Province Wise Percent Distr ibution of Asses

43

41

124

NWFP

Punjab

Sindh

Balochistan

%%

(g) Province wise percent distribution of horse (h) Province wise percent distribution of asses

Fig. 1 Province wise percent distribution of animals [4].


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Role of Livestock Sector in the Socio-Economic Uplift of the Rural Pakistan 1129

ruminants while goat remained dominant among small

ruminants in the country. Among the draft/traction

animals, the population of asses was reportedly far

ahead of other types of animals. The population oflivestock varied by provinces, however, in the

inter-provincial comparison, the number of cattle,

buffaloes, goats, horses and assess exceeded in the

Punjab while of sheep and camels in Balochistan and

of mules in the NWFP.

2. The Potential of Livestock in the

Development

Animals are a key source of income and food for

many small farmers around the globe. The increasing

demands for animal products also constitute an

economic opportunity for many people. Livestock

keeping is critical for many of the poor in the

developing

world, often contributing to multiple

livelihood objectivesand offering pathways out of

poverty. Livestock keeping also

affects an

indispensable asset of the poor, their human capital,

through its impact on their own nutrition and health.

This paper

outlines the linkages between livestockkeeping and the physical

well-being of the poor, and

examines a number of commonly heldbeliefs that

misrepresent livestock development issues relatedto

these linkages. These beliefs limit the scope of

interventionprograms to promote livestock and limit

their potential contribution

to poverty reduction.

Recognition of the complexity of the rolelivestock

plays in household decision-making and of the

opportunitiesforegone due to these misconceptions

can enhance the ability of livestock to contribute to

human well-being in the developingworld.

Livestock sector development occurs as a part of

overall economic development [5]. As incomes

increase, demand for livestock products also increases.

In wealthy countries, meat consumption per capita is

at least four times higher than level of developing

countries. Despite this disparity, developing countries

have seen great increases in meat consumption over

the past 20 years. The increase of animal product

consumption with increases in income is universal;

although once a high level of wealth is attained animal

product consumption levels off. Combined withurbanization and populations that are still increasing,

as well as ongoing economic development, there is a

tremendous capacity for continued increases in animal

product consumption worldwide [5].

Livestock is important to the livelihood of the rural

poor. Twenty five percent of the global poor (those

living on $2 per day or less) are dependent on

livestock for at least part of their livelihood [6]. This

figure rises to an estimated 70% for the rural poor.

The contribution of livestock to agricultural GDP has

been estimated to be almost as much as cereals, that is,

about 30% globally, and it is also the fastest growing

agricultural sub-sector. If livestock sector growth is

labor-intensive and based upon increases in

production and efficiency for smallholder-farmers, the

poverty reduction potential is significant; likewise,

large-scale livestock development alone has less

potential for reduction of rural poverty [7]. At the

subsistence level, livestock can provide nutrition,clothing, wealth/status, and even basic livelihood

support, while using surplus labor and household

surpluses for feed. This type of livestock production is

typically low input as well as low output. As

agricultural and economic development occurs the

nature of livestock production changes. More inputs

are used, and livestock can be a significant source of

cash revenue. The demand for meat (or protein/animal

products) will increase as economic development

occurs, pulling livestock sector development. As

livestock sector development occurs, its impact on the

poor is critical to development objectives.

Relationship between livestock and the livelihood

of rural people:

Livestock is a source of cash income; Livestock is one of the few assets available to the

poor, especially rural women;

Livestock provides the draft power and manure


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important for many crop systems;

Livestock allows the poor to utilize commonproperty;

Livestock is a source of income diversificationand stabilization;

Livestock is often the only source of income forthe poorest of the poor [8].

Delgado and his colleagues [5] have discussed how

pro-poor livestock development could impact poverty.

Livestock provides an opportunity for the very poor to

maintain at least a subsistence income despite their

low resource/capital base. Poor people often have little

access to land or more productive land/pastures, but

livestock can be produced with household surplus,through backyard-raising, and through using common

property

3. Constraints Associated in the Promotion

of Livestock Development

3.1 The Constraints

Although the livestock sector in Pakistan has

tremendous potential for growth, yet it experiences

several problems and challenges. The majorconstraints hampering its development include: animal

health (frequent disease out-break), inadequate

diagnostic facilities, low genetic potential, poor

nutritional and managemental status and weak

marketing network.

3.2 Poor Livestock Services

Services of the public sector organization are

focused on protecting the subsistences livestock

holding from diseases and economic potential of the

sector remained ignored. A great scope exists for

establishing a special services network based on

productivity enhancement through better management

of reproduction, feeding and health supplemented with

marketing and financial support, which will enable the

sector to produce a huge exportable surplus which can

compete in international market [9]. Presently in

Pakistan no arrangements exist in the public sector for

providing special services to the commercial dairy

farm and on the other hand the farmers are not aware

of the fact that technical support in selection of dairy

animals, and maintenance of proper health,

reproduction and production will increase them per

unit productivity and income. Under the present

farming system, calf rearing is considered expensive

and frequently avoided due to their higher prices of

milk. Most of the farmers sell their calves within the

first month to the butchers for saving the milk

production and feedings.

In the remaining calves, un-hygienic and

un-scientific rearing arrangements are associated with

higher calf mortality due to under or over feeding ofmilk or infestation with external or internal parasites.

Only 16% of calves survive beyond 150 days

postpartum. Most farmers from low socio-economics

status are unconscious, have little knowledge of banks

and other loaning agencies to successfully operate

their enterprises.

A bird eye view of the challenges faced by the

livestock sector in rural areas of Pakistan has been

presented as following:

A significant portion of the countrys population

suffers from malnutrition. Also it remains a big

challenge to keep balance between demand and supply

of food items from the animal source. Adequate

efforts are needed to meet an ever-increasing public

demand for milk, meat, eggs and dairy products.

There is a lack of comprehensive health coverage to

animals.

Programs on the training for farmers are not

available.

There is a need to empower women through

training and incentives.

Prevailing of poor markets and lack of efforts to

improve the marketing system in rural areas for

poverty alleviation are being noticed.

There is a lack of research based information

available to conduct applied research to directly

benefit the stakeholders.


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Role of Livestock Sector in the Socio-Economic Uplift of the Rural Pakistan 1131

The potential role of media has not received

importance. All efforts to raise awareness among the

stakeholders through media must be made.

Poor and week efforts for the conservation of

indigenous breeds are made.

There is a weak relationship between private sector

and livestock development initiatives. Enhancement of

private sector involvement in livestock development is

highly desirable.

Lack of resources for the grooming, cleaning and

prevailing poor management conditions for the

animals make them susceptible to diseases and look

ugly etc.

3.3 Constraints Associated with an Artificial

Insemination (AI) Services

Poor quality semen

Poor services

Anestrous, silent heat, late maturity&long calving

interval

Livestock is underfed and conventional methods to

feed the livestock are hampering productivity.

Number of animals is increased instead of emphasis

on raising productivity.

Lack of fattening practices hamper meat

production.

Sizeable loss in production is to effect of diseases,

vaccination facilities are available to only 16% of the

animal population.

There is an acute shortage of funds for the supply of

medicines and establishment of new hospitals and

dispensaries.

Budget constraints enable only 25% vaccinationcoverage (only in large animals for Hemorrhagic

Septicemia)

Shortage of vaccine;

Shortage of vaccinators;

Restricted mobility;

Lack of training of the farmers;

Lack of awareness among the farmers;

In-adequate extension activities;

In-sufficient research facilities.

4. Strategies to Overcome Problems

4.1 The Strategies

Government programs should be planned for

implementation in rural area.

Micro-credit program support to livestock

producers in shape of input supply; improvement of

feed and fodder resource base and introducing live

animal on meat weight basis backed by legislation to

eliminate exploitation of the livestock producers by

middle men and government must start work on the

technical projects and be provided to the farmers.

Better diseases control through vaccination

campaign and improved disease surveillance systems.

New production resources.

Increased productivity through improved breed,

feed processing, improved fodder storage, and better

management of communal grazing resources.

Improved storage and processing of livestock

product.

Access to markets and investment in infrastructure.

Training and education of livestock farmers and

breeders are quite absent.

Suggestions to promote livestock production.

Impose rules and regulations related to

environmental impact of industrialized livestock

production after the polluter pays principle.

Support environmental protection measures and

assist in solving problems with collection and

utilization of effluents from industrial livestock

production.

Develop veterinary rules and regulations requiredfor protection of public health.

Support interventions to promote development of

modern smallholder livestock production systems,

which satisfy consumers requirements for quantity

and quality.

Establish enabling agricultural policies,

infrastructure and vertical integration, which will

promote private investment and interventions in the


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livestock sector.

Promote and support research and advisory services

with focus on particular problems and technologies

related to small-holder production systems.

Create credit facility and some user-friendly

credit/loans for the farmers to add some new animals

with good genetic make-up.

Encourage the land-owners who are willing to set

up a product processing services in the

milk-producing rural areas.

5. Recommendations

Females claim major share in most of the decisions

taken for livestock production. However, theycontribute to decision-making to keep sheep and goats,

poultry birds, area allocation to fodder crop and to go

for improved fodder varieties. In most of the cases, the

major part of the income generated by males is

retained and handled by them.

To upgrade female skills and knowledge in poultry

production and the processing of milk, they need to be

exposed to appropriate technological packages. The

selling of milk remains a taboo. Therefore, the rural

folk can not gain full benefits of the livestock rearing.

Livestock is an important component of rural

farming system. There is a need to conduct further

research to document production and breed

improvements. A rural woman in Pakistan works for

15 hours a day, spending 5-6 hours in caring for

livestock. Women are responsible for 60% to 80% of

the feeding and milking of cattle. Despite womens

considerable involvement and contribution, their role

in livestock production has been underestimated,undervalued and widely ignored. Appropriate savings

and credit facilities that address the particular needs

and constraints of the poor especially women are

important tools for increasing production among poor

livestock keepers. In order to develop a sustainable

system for livestock management, it needs to be

closely integrated with credit and marketing systems.

The Community Empowerment through Livestock

Development and Credit Project aims at creating a

cadre of female rural entrepreneurs who are

economically empowered and serve their communities

to effectively address livestock management issues.

The project has been designed upon the request of the

government of Pakistan, to pilot a program on women

in livestock development.

This initiative provides opportunities for

self-employment and income generation among the

rural women as well as helps them in maintaining the

health of the livestock.

A rural woman in Pakistan works almost 15 hours a

day, spending about 5-6 hours in caring for livestock.

Women involved in rearing livestock and poultry lookafter all its aspects and are responsible for about 60%

to 80% of feeding and milking of dairy animals with

the exception of herding and marketing, since these

tasks require going away from home. Livestock

provides jobs not only to men but also to 50% of

women of their family in the agriculture sector.

Extension agencies admit that women, as heads of

household and managers of livestock, have great

potential as agents of change in farming communities.

They can boost animal production if properly trained

and motivated. In order to increase the per animal

production, it is imperative that rural women should

be counselled to follow best practices for livestock

health and production, particularly feeding, breeding,

housing and disease control measures.

Any effort for alleviation of poverty without active

participation of women is destined to fail. Unless

women are allowed to exploit their potential, the rural

scene will remain unchanged. Though women are anintegral part of the countrys economy, their share in

economic benefits, opportunities and access to

resources is not commensurate with their efforts.

If women are provided with easy access to

micro-credit and livestock-related trainings through

available windows such as Pakistan Poverty

Alleviation Fund (PPAF), Rural Support Programmes

(RSP), First Women Bank (FWB), Agricultural


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Documents

Role of Livestock Sector in the Socio-Economic Uplift of Pakistan