Expanding livestock farming is the way forward

Pakistan is an agricultural state blessed with four seasons, fertile land, fresh water, high quality cattle breeds, rich marine and inland fisheries and the manpower required for high production in every sub-sector including crops, livestock, fisheries, forestry, alternative energy and favourable weather conditions. Despite these advantages, the production per acre, per unit and per animal is too low to meet the nutritional needs of the country. As a result, Pakistan spends a large amount of foreign exchange on food imports which is a burden on the economy.

Several factors contribute to this low production. There is a lack of ownership in the agricultural sector and a lack of policies to create production zones.

Australia, on the other hand, focuses on land, water, planning and technology to increase agricultural production.

Australia has established agricultural production and expansion zones, dairy production and expansion zones, and meat production and expansion zones.

In addition, Australia has developed drylands by creating development and expansion zones for high-quality wool production. This wool is exported to other countries, generating significant foreign exchange.

Farmers in these dry areas are prosperous and even own small planes to manage and care for their sheep farms.

In Pakistan, there is a lack of implementation of production policies despite the availability of numerous policy documents prepared by foreign and local experts across all sub-sectors.

There is a lack of research and development to increase unit output in all sub-sectors despite the fact that we have highly qualified people in universities, research institutions and extension sectors.

There are inadequate facilities to improve land fertility, insufficient tree and forest plantations and minimal facilities to produce high quality seeds.

Even basic seeds for major crops like wheat, rice, cotton and edible oil are not available. Moreover, facilities for multi-cutting, saline and drought-resistant fodder are lacking.

Insufficient measures to prevent the slaughter of elite mother animals and calves also contribute to low production.

As a result, milk and meat production has declined and their prices have increased significantly.

There is little planning for farming practices in the marine sector, despite the considerable potential for fisheries and shrimp. Uncontrolled fishing practices threaten the potential of fisheries.

We do not have the planning and facilities for the development of semi-arid and arid areas for livestock production, for salt- and drought-tolerant feed, and for tree plantations to increase the production of meat, wool, hides and skins.

There are no incentives and facilities to provide solar and biomass energy in semi-arid, arid and underdeveloped areas. Also, there are no policy initiatives to provide soft credits without collateral to smallholder farmers in all sub-sectors through commercial banks.

At the national level, there is hardly any policy to reward the best farmers and technical officers in the sectors.

We lack planning to regulate utilities of all sub-sectors equally according to agricultural tariffs. There are no incentives or subsidies for providing elite dams, rearing or fattening calves.

No attempt is made to change the system of selling livestock at markets from selling by head to selling by weight, forcing farmers to fatten their male animals to make them heavier before selling.

Shortage of water for agricultural and other purposes, inefficient crop protection and disease research services, and expensive disease control measures also contribute to low production.

The government should set up committees consisting of experienced persons to ensure proper planning in crucial areas in all sub-sectors of agriculture.

This is one of the essential ways to improve the country’s economy. —Dr. Muhammad Awab Tariq